Petty Officer John William Bonser K/7761

Soldier Factfile

Name: Petty Officer John William Bonser K/7761

Date of Birth: 2.4.1892

Address:

Parents: The Nook, Anstey

John: 64, Rochdale Road, Harpurhey, Manchester

Parents Names: Thomas Bonser (Shoe Riveter) and Elizabeth (Shoe Machinist)

Occupation before the war: Stoker in the Royal Navy

Siblings Names:

Date Died: 2.8.18

Age: 26

Place of Death: (At sea) The North Sea

Place of Burial/Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hants

Cause of death: Drowned when HMS Ariel hit a mine and sank in less than an hour.

Regiment: Royal Navy

Medals:

Any other information (e.g. Service Record/ appearance etc)

John married Jessie Peace in the last quarter of 1913.
When he dies his wife’s address was given as: The Common, Barwell, Hinckley, Leics.
John enlisted into the Royal Navy to serve a 12 year engagement on the 19th July 1910 and was allocated the service number K/7761 in Portsmouth, Hants.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height, had a chest measurement of 37¼ inches and had dark brown hair and blue eyes; his complexion was described as sallow. It was noted that he had a broken dagger and clasped hands tattooed on the back of his right forearm, and a snake and tree on his left forearm, he gave his trade or calling as a bootmaker’s apprentice.
On 2 August, HMS Ariel was laying mines in the western end of the Heligoland Bight. The destroyer Vehement sank after striking a German mine and then in attempting to exit the minefield, Ariel lost her bow and sank in less than an hour.^]49 lives were lost including her commanding officer, Lieutenant Frank A Rothera.