Frederick Huntley was born on 19 July 1900, the son of Andrew and Charlotte Huntley. Andrew, a pit and subsequently a mill sawyer like his father George before him, was born in 1850 and brought up in Northfleet. Charlotte was born in 1860 in Bexleyheath.
It may be that Charlotte was married before. The 1901 census records the family living at number 5 School Lane but including a daughter by the name of Elizabeth Poulter (aged 17) and a son by the name of Albert Poulter (aged 15). Andrew and Charlotte’s oldest child together was Roseannah aged 9 in 1901. She was born when Andrew was 42 and Charlotte was 32. The 1891 census shows Andrew still living with his parents indicating that Charlotte was married to someone else at the time.
The 1911 census records that Charlotte had a total of 13 children, 5 of whom had died. The ones we are aware of are James born in 1891, Roseannah born in 1892, Violet born in 1893, Beters born in 1895, Eleanor born in 1898 and Frederick, who appears to be the youngest, in 1900.
After leaving school, Frederick became a motor driver. On 30 July 1918, just after Frederick’s 18th birthday he joined the Royal Navy, undertaking his training at the shore based HMS Pembroke at Chatham.
On 9 October with the rank of Stoker Second Class, Frederick was posted to HMPMS Plumpton (see picture below). Plumpton was a Racecourse class minesweeper and one of 32 delivered to the Royal Navy during the First World War. They were built to two related designs as paddlewheel coastal minesweeping sloops under the Emergency War Programme.
The role of stoker was an arduous job, based below decks in the engine room. In the old steam ships it often involved shovelling coal, in more modern vessels that ran on oil it involved boiler maintenance. Either way, the boiler and engine rooms were hot and uncomfortable places in which to work.
Shortly after his posting, Frederick and HMPMS Plumpton sailed to the French and Belgian coast to undertake minesweeping duties. On 19 October, with other minesweepers she set sail from Dunkirk towards Ostende. On nearing Ostende, the minesweepers formed line abreast for the purpose of sinking mines by firing at them. At 12.45 p.m. as Plumpton was undertaking this activity, a mine exploded under her bow, completely blowing away the forward part of the ship from the forward engine room bulkhead.
Lieutenant A.P Jackson, RNVR reported the following in a letter to ‘Captain, Motor Launches, Dover’ on 22 October 1918:
“Lieutenant J. R. Purvis RNVR, the Commanding Officer, who was standing on starboard side of the gun firing at mines with a rifle, completely disappeared. Previous to this, the crew had been ordered aft by Lieutenant Purvis, as, owing to the quick rolling of the ship, he considered it dangerous for more than one person to be firing. All on board were thrown down by the explosion, but not seriously injured. I was at the telegraph at the time, and cannot remember what happened until I came to and found myself lying under the port side of the dinghy. I ordered the crew to lower away dinghy but before she was actually in the water M.L. 282 came alongside and took off crew and myself, transferring us to HMS Terror at about 8 a.m.
M.L. 556 towed the wreck of M.L. 561 (Plumpton) to Terror, but after being made fast astern, it ultimately sunk.”
The explosion and ultimate sinking of HMPMS claimed 10 lives, including that of Frederick Huntley. 10 more crew members were wounded.
On 23 October, a letter from the Commodore, Dunkirk, directed that a Court of Enquiry be convened the following day for the purpose of holding “a full and careful investigation into the circumstances attending the striking of a mine by P.M.S. “Plumpton” on 19th October…”. That Court of Enquiry was duly convened and heard evidence from relevant witnesses, some of whom recorded the bravery of those who attended the stricken ship to rescue survivors and to subsequently beach her. The Court of Enquiry found that nothing could have been done to prevent Plumpton from hitting the mine and that consequently, no one was to blame for her loss or the loss of her crew.
What is reasonably clear is that the explosion ripped through the exact place where Frederick Huntley was working. His death was therefore likely to have been mercifully quick. Sadly, his body and the bodies of six others, were never recovered. He had been on active service for only 10 days.
Commemorated
- East Wickham War Memorial
- East Wickham and Welling War Memorial Hall
- Royal Navy Memorial near Brompton, Chatham
Links
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Frederick George Baden Powell Huntley, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.