Bertie was born in Sydenham, London in 1893. It is not known who his parents were. His grandmother was Mary Ann Harris and his uncle Charles Harris. They lived in Saxlingham Nethergate and Charles was a woodman.
In 1901 Bertie was living with his uncle Charles aged 7 years old.
Bertie was working as farm labourer in 1911 and still living with his uncle.
On 13th May 1912 he enlisted in the Royal Navy .He was 5 feet 8 inches tall with a 37 inch chest. He had a fair complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. He had a small scar on the left side of his neck. His Service number was K15154.
He became a stoker and at the end of the First World war he was a leading stoker. He saw active service and served on many different ships including HMS Inflexible.
He left the navy on 28 July 1924 having served for 12 years. His last ship was HMS Columbine.
He came back to Saxlingham and was there at the end of the 1920s.
It has not been possible to find any other information about him.
Acknowledgements
England & Wales, Birth, marriage, death index 1837-2005
UK Census Collection
Norfolk Electoral Rolls-Southern Division Saxlingham Nethergate and Thorpe, (Absent Voters Lists 1918-1920)
Royal Navy Seamen 1899- 1919
If anyone has any photographs or information about this person please contact me. Email jan@janmfox.co.uk