Clarence Trill. Died 7th July 1917.
Clarence was born on the 29th October 1898 to father, Clarence and mother Annie Trill in Wokingham, Berkshire. He was the first born and had two siblings, all brothers. By 1911 Clarence was only 12 and still at school, his father was a mechanic at the local garage and they lived at ‘Bankside’, Langborough Road, Wokingham in 1911. Ten years earlier, Clarence senior was a bicycle mechanic and the family in 1901, were living at 252 Barkham Road, Wokingham in Berkshire.
In the New Year of 1917 Clarence joined the Navy and was on the HM Destroyer Ettrick, an old ship and hit by a U Boat on 7th July 1917, a few miles off Beachy Head in Sussex. He was only 19 and his body was never recovered. He is remembered at the Portsmouth War Memorial.
His father, Clarence was born in Brighton, Sussex. There is also a record from the 1911 Census, in which the landlord of the Bush Hotel, Wokingham (Bush Walk now) is a Henry Trill, born Brighton, aged 72. This is likely to be young Clarence’s grandfather.
Local historian Jim Bell, provides us with the following newspaper extract:
Name: TRILL, CLARENCE HENRY
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Stoker 2nd Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. “Ettrick.”
Age:18
Date of Death: 07/07/1917
Service No: K/41349
Additional information: Son of Clarence Ernest and Annie Trill, of “Bankside,” Gipsy Lane, Wokingham, Berks.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:26. Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
252 Barkham Road, Wokingham (1911)
‘Bankside’ Langborough Road, Wokingham (1901)
Gipsy Lane (during the war – next to Langborough Road)
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