John Annis blown up in H.M. Minesweeper
John Annis, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Annis, Crown Street, Lowestoft, blown up in H.M.Minesweeper.
ANNIS, JOHN
Rank:………………….....Trimmer
Service No:……………4300TS
Date of Death:………26/11/1916
Service:………………....Royal Naval Reserve
……………………….........H.M. Drifter "Michaelmas Daisy."
Panel Reference:….20.
Memorial:..................CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3050523/ANNIS,%20JOHN
The WW1 Naval Casualties database records that Trimmer 4300 T.S. (CH) John Annis, Royal Naval Reserve, was ‘Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action’ on the 26th November 1916 whilst serving aboard H M Drifter ‘Michaelmas Daisy’. His body was not recovered for burial. John was born Lowestoft on the 6th September 1875. The next of kin notified of his death was his wife, Julia A., of Oulton Road, Oulton Broad, Suffolk.
The Naval Reservist Service Records for TS 4300 John Annis, born Lowestoft 6th September 1875, are held at the National Archive under reference BT 377/7/114223
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8572536
There is no obvious Civil Probate for this man.
He appears on a Family History website as John James Annis.
www.shirley-elrick.com/p14481.htm
He is also remembered in the Memorial Chapel at St Margaret, Lowestoft, along with brothers Peter and Jonas.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Suffolk/LowestoftStMargaretsChurch...
6th September 1875 – Birth
(Source WW1 Naval Casualties and the Catalogue entry for his Service Records at the National Archive.)
The birth of a John Annis was recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1875. Then, as now, you had 42 days to register the birth with the Civil Authorities, so the registration quarter is not incompatible with the date of birth.
1881 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The Annis family were initially difficult to track down on this census, but armed with the information from 1901 and 1911, I was able to take another look. The Genealogy site I use for Census lookups had mis-transcribed then as “Annise”, although as the census taker had recorded them as “Anniss”, it was never going to be straightforward!
Parents James, (44, a Bricklayer, born Kirby, Norfolk) and his wife Elizabeth, (33, born Lowestoft), were living at 1, Well Yard, St Peters Street, Lowestoft. Living with them are their children:-
Jane A……aged 11….born Lowestoft
Jonas……..aged 10….born Lowestoft
George…...aged 8…...born Lowestoft
John………aged 5…..born Lowestoft
James…….aged 4…...born Lowestoft
William P..aged 1……no place of birth shown
1891 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The Annis family were again difficult to track down on this census. Having found them on the 1901 census as Annis and then back-tracked to 1881, (Anniss), it was time to have another go at filling the gap. As there were incompatible details for the parents, particularly father James, between the two censuses, it was difficult to use them as search criteria. Without a firm(ish birthdate or birthplace there area lot of potential matches.
I therefore tried looking for a Jonas, born c1871 and with a Lowestoft connection – their eldest son from the 1881 census, (eldest daughter Jane could well have been married by the time of this census). What I found as a match was a Jomas “Ennis”, aged 20, a General Labourer born Lowestoft, living at 1 Well Yard, St Peters Street, Lowestoft with his parents. This was the same address as the 1881 census. The “Ennis” family parents are James, (aged 46, a Bricklayer born Flixton, Suffolk) and Elizabeth, (aged 44, born Lowestoft). As well as Jonas their other children living with them are:-
George…..aged 18…born Lowestoft…General Labourer
John………aged 15...born Lowestoft…Fisherman
James…….aged 13…born Lowestoft…Errand Boy
William…..aged 11…born Lowestoft
Robert……aged 9…...born Lowestoft
Peter……..aged 7……born Lowestoft
Alfred……aged 4…..born Lowestoft
Elizabeth...aged 2…..born Lowestoft
1898 – Marriage
The marriage of a John Annis to a Julia Adelaide Leggett was recorded in the Mutford District in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1898.
Possible childrens baptisms
The baptism of a John James Jonas Emmanual Annis, no date of birth recorded, took place at St Margaret, Lowestoft on the 3rd October 1898. Parents were John Annis and Adelaide Julia Annis.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NTQS-652
(The death of a John James J E Annis, aged under 1, was recorded in the Mutford District in Q4 of 1898. The National Burial Index records a John James Jonas Emm. Annis, aged u/1, buried in Suffolk in 1898.)
The baptism of a James Robert William Annis, no date of birth recorded, took place at St Margaret, Lowestoft on the 21st September 1900. Parents were John Annis and Julia Adelaide Annis.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9GP-G49
(The death of a James Robert W Annis, aged under 1, was recorded in the Mutford District in Q4 of 1900.)
1901 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The 25 year old John, a Brewers Labourer, born Lowestoft, was recorded as the married head of the household at 3 White Horse Street, Lowestoft. He lives there with his wife Julia A, (aged 27, born Corton, Suffolk) and their 1 year old daughter Elizabeth, (born Lowestoft).
Living nearby at 7&8 White Horse Street is the only Peter Annis associated in the census with Lowestoft, (see newspaper reports below). Aged 18, single and a Bricklayers Apprentice, he had been born Lowestoft. This was the household of his parents, (and so presumably Johns), James, (aged 54, Keeper of a Public House, born Lowestoft) and Elizabeth, (aged 52, born Lowestoft). As well as Peter the couple have two others sons, (George, 25, single, Bricklayers Labourer and Alfred, 15) and a daughter, Elizabeth, (13), living with them. The children were all born Lowestoft. There are also 14 boarders in the household.
1911 Census of England and Wales
John, (35, Grave Digger for Lowestoft Corporation) and Julia “Adeliade” Annis were now recorded at Meadow Cottages, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft. The couple have been married 12 years and have had 7 children, of which 3 were then still alive. All three were still living at home.
Elizabeth Jane ‘Adeliade’...aged 11…born Lowestoft
Rosa Emma Margret………aged 9….born Lowestoft
Rennie Victoria Maude……aged 1….born Oulton Broad
Post August 1911 it had become compulsory when registering the birth of a child with the Civil Authorities in England and Wales to also record the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Births for England and Wales produces two potential additional children for John and Julia.
The birth of an Alfred A G Annis, mothers maiden name Leggett, was registered in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1913.
The birth of a Frederick A Annis, mothers maiden name Leggett, was registered in the Mutford District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1914.
On the day
An in memoriam notice which appeared in the Norwich Mercury dated 21st November 1917 refers to a William Edward James Knights who was killed while serving on H.M Drifter ‘Michaelmas Daisy’ off the coast of Italy, 26th November 1916.
A death notice for John appeared in the 1st December 1916 edition – the Norwich Mercury at this stage was only printed twice a week.
“ANNIS – In loving memory of John Annis, R.N.R., the dearly beloved husband of Adelaide Annis, who was unfortunately killed whilst serving on H.M. Drifter, November 26th,1916, aged 42 years.
“In the bloom of life death claimed him,
In the pride of his manhood days,
None knew him but to love him,
None mentioned him but with praises.”
“Rest in peace”
From his sorrowing wife and children.”
A further article appeared in the edition of the Norwich Mercury dated 17th February 1917.
Lowestoft’s Roll of Honour
John Annis and Sergeant Peter Annis, D.C.M., R.E.
Mrs. Annis, of 41, Crown Street, has recently lost two sons, John Annis, was blown up in one of H.M. drifters, and Sergt. Peter Annis, D.C.M., R.E., who was killed in France. Sergt. Annis went to France in 1914, and took active part in the battles of the Marne, the Aisne, Ypres, Armentieres, Givenchy, and at Loos, where he won the D.C.M. for his great bravery and skill. He went through the Somme Push and other minor scraps, and was killed by a stray bullet in the quieter part he has ever been in. Mrs Annis has another son in France in the R.G.A., doing his bit for King and country.
A picture of John, (and his brother), appears in the same edition.
Sunday, 26 November 1916
Michaelmas Daisy, hired net drifter, mined and sunk in Adriatic
ANNIS, John, Trimmer, RNR, TS 4300
BURROWS, Wilfred L, Deck Boy, RNR, SBD 440
GOSLING, Thomas W, 2nd Hand, RNR, SD 2704
JONES, Lawrence G, Leading Deck Hand, RNR, SD 565
KNIGHTS, George S, Engineman, RNR, ES 4133
KNIGHTS, William E J, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 8870
LINCOLN, George W, Ty/Skipper, RNR
MILLER, Alexander, Ty/Lieutenant, RNR
SIMMONS, Ernest S, Engineman, RNR, ES 4134
STONE, Walter, Trimmer, RNR, TS 4376
WRIGHT, William, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 8866
www.worldwar1atsea.net/xDKCas1916-11Nov.htm
HMT Michaelmas Daisy The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the Ionian Sea off Santa Maria di Leuca, Lecce, Italy with the loss of all twelve of her crew.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_November_1916
HMT Michaelmas Daisy (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 14 (Alfred Klatt) and sank in the Ionian Sea off Santa Maria di Leuca, Lecce, Italy with the loss of all twelve of her crew.
(His Majesty's Drifter Finross, 78 tons was also lost the same day to mines laid by UC 14.)
subsim.com/radioroom//showthread.php?p=2447707
Mildly photoshopped to try and modify some of the damage on the original image.
John Annis blown up in H.M. Minesweeper
John Annis, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Annis, Crown Street, Lowestoft, blown up in H.M.Minesweeper.
ANNIS, JOHN
Rank:………………….....Trimmer
Service No:……………4300TS
Date of Death:………26/11/1916
Service:………………....Royal Naval Reserve
……………………….........H.M. Drifter "Michaelmas Daisy."
Panel Reference:….20.
Memorial:..................CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3050523/ANNIS,%20JOHN
The WW1 Naval Casualties database records that Trimmer 4300 T.S. (CH) John Annis, Royal Naval Reserve, was ‘Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action’ on the 26th November 1916 whilst serving aboard H M Drifter ‘Michaelmas Daisy’. His body was not recovered for burial. John was born Lowestoft on the 6th September 1875. The next of kin notified of his death was his wife, Julia A., of Oulton Road, Oulton Broad, Suffolk.
The Naval Reservist Service Records for TS 4300 John Annis, born Lowestoft 6th September 1875, are held at the National Archive under reference BT 377/7/114223
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8572536
There is no obvious Civil Probate for this man.
He appears on a Family History website as John James Annis.
www.shirley-elrick.com/p14481.htm
He is also remembered in the Memorial Chapel at St Margaret, Lowestoft, along with brothers Peter and Jonas.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Suffolk/LowestoftStMargaretsChurch...
6th September 1875 – Birth
(Source WW1 Naval Casualties and the Catalogue entry for his Service Records at the National Archive.)
The birth of a John Annis was recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1875. Then, as now, you had 42 days to register the birth with the Civil Authorities, so the registration quarter is not incompatible with the date of birth.
1881 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The Annis family were initially difficult to track down on this census, but armed with the information from 1901 and 1911, I was able to take another look. The Genealogy site I use for Census lookups had mis-transcribed then as “Annise”, although as the census taker had recorded them as “Anniss”, it was never going to be straightforward!
Parents James, (44, a Bricklayer, born Kirby, Norfolk) and his wife Elizabeth, (33, born Lowestoft), were living at 1, Well Yard, St Peters Street, Lowestoft. Living with them are their children:-
Jane A……aged 11….born Lowestoft
Jonas……..aged 10….born Lowestoft
George…...aged 8…...born Lowestoft
John………aged 5…..born Lowestoft
James…….aged 4…...born Lowestoft
William P..aged 1……no place of birth shown
1891 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The Annis family were again difficult to track down on this census. Having found them on the 1901 census as Annis and then back-tracked to 1881, (Anniss), it was time to have another go at filling the gap. As there were incompatible details for the parents, particularly father James, between the two censuses, it was difficult to use them as search criteria. Without a firm(ish birthdate or birthplace there area lot of potential matches.
I therefore tried looking for a Jonas, born c1871 and with a Lowestoft connection – their eldest son from the 1881 census, (eldest daughter Jane could well have been married by the time of this census). What I found as a match was a Jomas “Ennis”, aged 20, a General Labourer born Lowestoft, living at 1 Well Yard, St Peters Street, Lowestoft with his parents. This was the same address as the 1881 census. The “Ennis” family parents are James, (aged 46, a Bricklayer born Flixton, Suffolk) and Elizabeth, (aged 44, born Lowestoft). As well as Jonas their other children living with them are:-
George…..aged 18…born Lowestoft…General Labourer
John………aged 15...born Lowestoft…Fisherman
James…….aged 13…born Lowestoft…Errand Boy
William…..aged 11…born Lowestoft
Robert……aged 9…...born Lowestoft
Peter……..aged 7……born Lowestoft
Alfred……aged 4…..born Lowestoft
Elizabeth...aged 2…..born Lowestoft
1898 – Marriage
The marriage of a John Annis to a Julia Adelaide Leggett was recorded in the Mutford District in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1898.
Possible childrens baptisms
The baptism of a John James Jonas Emmanual Annis, no date of birth recorded, took place at St Margaret, Lowestoft on the 3rd October 1898. Parents were John Annis and Adelaide Julia Annis.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NTQS-652
(The death of a John James J E Annis, aged under 1, was recorded in the Mutford District in Q4 of 1898. The National Burial Index records a John James Jonas Emm. Annis, aged u/1, buried in Suffolk in 1898.)
The baptism of a James Robert William Annis, no date of birth recorded, took place at St Margaret, Lowestoft on the 21st September 1900. Parents were John Annis and Julia Adelaide Annis.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9GP-G49
(The death of a James Robert W Annis, aged under 1, was recorded in the Mutford District in Q4 of 1900.)
1901 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The 25 year old John, a Brewers Labourer, born Lowestoft, was recorded as the married head of the household at 3 White Horse Street, Lowestoft. He lives there with his wife Julia A, (aged 27, born Corton, Suffolk) and their 1 year old daughter Elizabeth, (born Lowestoft).
Living nearby at 7&8 White Horse Street is the only Peter Annis associated in the census with Lowestoft, (see newspaper reports below). Aged 18, single and a Bricklayers Apprentice, he had been born Lowestoft. This was the household of his parents, (and so presumably Johns), James, (aged 54, Keeper of a Public House, born Lowestoft) and Elizabeth, (aged 52, born Lowestoft). As well as Peter the couple have two others sons, (George, 25, single, Bricklayers Labourer and Alfred, 15) and a daughter, Elizabeth, (13), living with them. The children were all born Lowestoft. There are also 14 boarders in the household.
1911 Census of England and Wales
John, (35, Grave Digger for Lowestoft Corporation) and Julia “Adeliade” Annis were now recorded at Meadow Cottages, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft. The couple have been married 12 years and have had 7 children, of which 3 were then still alive. All three were still living at home.
Elizabeth Jane ‘Adeliade’...aged 11…born Lowestoft
Rosa Emma Margret………aged 9….born Lowestoft
Rennie Victoria Maude……aged 1….born Oulton Broad
Post August 1911 it had become compulsory when registering the birth of a child with the Civil Authorities in England and Wales to also record the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Births for England and Wales produces two potential additional children for John and Julia.
The birth of an Alfred A G Annis, mothers maiden name Leggett, was registered in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1913.
The birth of a Frederick A Annis, mothers maiden name Leggett, was registered in the Mutford District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1914.
On the day
An in memoriam notice which appeared in the Norwich Mercury dated 21st November 1917 refers to a William Edward James Knights who was killed while serving on H.M Drifter ‘Michaelmas Daisy’ off the coast of Italy, 26th November 1916.
A death notice for John appeared in the 1st December 1916 edition – the Norwich Mercury at this stage was only printed twice a week.
“ANNIS – In loving memory of John Annis, R.N.R., the dearly beloved husband of Adelaide Annis, who was unfortunately killed whilst serving on H.M. Drifter, November 26th,1916, aged 42 years.
“In the bloom of life death claimed him,
In the pride of his manhood days,
None knew him but to love him,
None mentioned him but with praises.”
“Rest in peace”
From his sorrowing wife and children.”
A further article appeared in the edition of the Norwich Mercury dated 17th February 1917.
Lowestoft’s Roll of Honour
John Annis and Sergeant Peter Annis, D.C.M., R.E.
Mrs. Annis, of 41, Crown Street, has recently lost two sons, John Annis, was blown up in one of H.M. drifters, and Sergt. Peter Annis, D.C.M., R.E., who was killed in France. Sergt. Annis went to France in 1914, and took active part in the battles of the Marne, the Aisne, Ypres, Armentieres, Givenchy, and at Loos, where he won the D.C.M. for his great bravery and skill. He went through the Somme Push and other minor scraps, and was killed by a stray bullet in the quieter part he has ever been in. Mrs Annis has another son in France in the R.G.A., doing his bit for King and country.
A picture of John, (and his brother), appears in the same edition.
Sunday, 26 November 1916
Michaelmas Daisy, hired net drifter, mined and sunk in Adriatic
ANNIS, John, Trimmer, RNR, TS 4300
BURROWS, Wilfred L, Deck Boy, RNR, SBD 440
GOSLING, Thomas W, 2nd Hand, RNR, SD 2704
JONES, Lawrence G, Leading Deck Hand, RNR, SD 565
KNIGHTS, George S, Engineman, RNR, ES 4133
KNIGHTS, William E J, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 8870
LINCOLN, George W, Ty/Skipper, RNR
MILLER, Alexander, Ty/Lieutenant, RNR
SIMMONS, Ernest S, Engineman, RNR, ES 4134
STONE, Walter, Trimmer, RNR, TS 4376
WRIGHT, William, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 8866
www.worldwar1atsea.net/xDKCas1916-11Nov.htm
HMT Michaelmas Daisy The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the Ionian Sea off Santa Maria di Leuca, Lecce, Italy with the loss of all twelve of her crew.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_November_1916
HMT Michaelmas Daisy (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 14 (Alfred Klatt) and sank in the Ionian Sea off Santa Maria di Leuca, Lecce, Italy with the loss of all twelve of her crew.
(His Majesty's Drifter Finross, 78 tons was also lost the same day to mines laid by UC 14.)
subsim.com/radioroom//showthread.php?p=2447707
Mildly photoshopped to try and modify some of the damage on the original image.