Stories from the Station: William Henry Manning, Royal Naval Reserve

William Henry Manning (1891-1961)

Image courtesy of Naomi Radbourne.

Date of Birth: 23 February 1891

Place of Birth: Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, England

Date of Death: 7 September 1961

Burial Place: Plymouth, Englan

ID: M.7578, Royal Naval Reserve

Enlistment Date: 17 April 1914

Served at HM Wireless Station: 25 June 1919 - 10 March 1922

Position: Engineer

Appearance (as described in Service Record). 

Height: 5'4

Hair: Light Brown

Eyes: Blue

Complexion: Fresh

Early Life

William Henry Manning was born on February 23, 1891 in Devonport, Plymouth, England2,3,4. His early years were spent living with his parents, William Henry Manning, and Rosina (Westlake) Manning at 26 Mount Street in Devonport. William’s grandmother, Martha Westlake, and uncle, Alfred Westlake, also lived with the family for several years2,3.

William’s father, William Sr., was employed as a Stationary Engine Driver for the Royal William Victualling Yard3,4. This depot ensured that the naval ships were provisioned with all the required food, drink and supplies needed. When William was an infant, his grandmother was also working. In the 1891 census, Martha Westlake was recorded as a “charwoman”2, a part-time position as a cleaner.

One of the “Three Towns” that form the port of Plymouth, Devonport was originally known as Plymouth-Dock, after the development of the Royal Navy Dockyard, but was renamed Devonport in 18235. By the late 1800s it was a large community of great “naval and commercial importance”5, featuring the headquarters of the naval and military authorities of the port5.

Keyham Dockyard, Devonport, 1901

As a young boy, William may have attended one of the free schools for the “children of persons connected with the naval and military establishments.” By 1901, there were over 60,000 inhabitants in Devonport6– many of whom would have played a role in supporting the Royal Navy activities at the port.

William had several siblings. Tragically, many of them did not survive infancy. In 1911, the census recorded that William and Rosina Manning had had 7 children, with only four surviving by 1911.

 

64 Hotham Place, Devonport, England.
Image courtesy of Google Maps. 

William’s first sibling, a younger brother, Alfred, was born in 1893, but died shortly before his 3rd birthday. Another brother, Frederick John Manning was born in 1896.The family lost Lilian Rose Manning (1898-1899) and newborn George Manning (3 March 1900). Violet Maude Manning was born in 1902, followed by Reginald Charles Manning in 1906.

Rosina Manning, William’s mother, passed away on February 11, 1910. Following her death, William’s young sister, Violet, was sent to live with their aunt, Bessie Westlake, and their cousins in Devonport7.

William, Frederick, and Reginald remained with their father following the death of their mother. In 1911, they all lived at 64 Hotham Place in Devonport. Frederick and Reginald attended school while, William worked as an Engine Fitter’s Apprentice, and their father continued working at the Victualling Yard4. 

Early Career

In April 1914, William enlisted in the Royal Navy as an ERA-4 (Engine Room Artificer, 4th Class)8. His first posting was HMS Vivid II, a shore establishment in Devonport, specifically the Stokers and Engine Room Artificers School9. He then spent 3-weeks in July 1914 attached to HMS Indus, the mechanic’s training establishment in Devonport. William then served on HM Torpedo Boat 15 (attached administratively to depot ships HMS Leander, HMS St. George, and the shore base HMS Attentive II)8 until 1916 as part of the Dover Patrol.

William served on HM TB15 from 30 July 1914 - 30 May 1916. 
Image courtesy of Frank Hanna.

During this time, William’s family was once again rocked by loss. His younger brother, Frederick John Manning, was killed overseas on September 25, 1915 at the Battle of Loos11,12. Frederick had been serving as a Private in the 8th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment11,12. He was nineteen years old.

In May 1916, William returned to HMS Vivid II8. He then was posted to HMS Warspite from July 1916 until February 1917, joining her crew a month after her role in the famous Battle of Jutland13. William served in a variety of postings from 1917-1919, including HMS Vivid II, HMS Springbok and HMS Leonidas (attached to HMS Hecla and HMS Apollo)8. During this time his rating was improved to ERA-38. 

HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl

In June 1919, William was posted to HMS Briton8 in Newfoundland. His service in Newfoundland was completed at HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl, where he worked as an Engineer and was promoted to ERA-28. William would have become well acquainted with the six massive Gardner engines that powered the station14.

Gardner generator at HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl.
Image courtesy of our Clem Scott collection, 006-001-041. 

Gardner engine specifications for HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl. 

Mount Pearl Wireless Station. 
Image Courtesy of Naomi Radbourne.

William Manning (B.R. Centre) and colleagues in Newfoundland. 
Mr. E. Newton (F.R. Left) was a groomsman at William's wedding. 
Image courtesy of Naomi Radbourne.

During his time in Newfoundland, William met Elsie May Cook. His next big adventure would be marriage.

Marriage

William and Elsie May Cook of South Side were married at St. Mary’s Church by Rev. A.B.S. Stirling on June 16, 192115. Elsie’s attendants were her sister, Laura Cook, and Camill[a] Coaker, daughter of W.F. Coaker15. William’s groomsmen were Mr. E Newton (HMS Briton), and Mr. Harter (Mount Pearl Wireless Station). Their reception was held at Holland’s Hotel in Topsail15.

Elsie Cook and William Manning's wedding, June 16, 1921.
Image courtesy of Naomi Radbourne

(L) Marriage announcement in the Evening Telegram, 1921-06-17. 
(R) Mr. E. Newton, one of William's groomsmen.
Image courtesy of Naomi Radbourne

Elsie and William had a shared experience of loss, which might have strengthened their bond. Both had lost brothers during the First World War. Elsie’s younger brother Alfred was a Corporal in the Newfoundland Regiment (it had not yet received the Royal designation) and was killed in action in Monchy-le-Preux, France in 191716. 

Shortly after their wedding, the 1921 Census of Newfoundland was enumerated. Elsie and William were living with Elsie’s family in South Side17. The newlyweds remained in St. John’s until March 19228. 

Mid-Career

The S.S. Digby transported William and Elsie Manning to England in 1922. 
The Digby was also requisitioned for service during the First World War,
as an Armed Merchant Cruiser (HMS Digby/Artois). It served in this capacity
from 1914-1919 before being retuned to the Furness Withy Line.
Image courtesy of Naval-history.net

William’s posting at HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl came to an end in March 1922. His next posting was back in Devonport, where he would return to HMS Vivid8.

William and Elsie arrived in England on April 10, 1922 after travelling on the S.S. Digby of the Furness Line18. They travelled in first class, which would have made the transatlantic voyage more comfortable. Upon arrival, Elsie would be living at 64 Hotham Place, Devonport with William’s family while he was residing at the Royal Naval Barracks in Devonport18. 

Shortly after their arrival, William and Elsie had their first child, Phyllis Joyce Manning. She was born on July 15, 1922. Tragically, Phyllis passed away three weeks later on August 10, 1922. This loss was to be the first of several heartbreaks for William and Elsie. 

Between 1922 and 1924 William continued service with the Royal Navy8. His postings included:  

• HMS Beaufort8, a minesweeper13

• HMS Columbine8, a destroyer base at Port Edgar in Scotland19

• HMS Greenwich8, a depot-ship13

• HMS Vivid II8

William Manning's qualifications. Courtesy of Naomi Radbourne.

St. Helena

In December 1924, William and Elsie moved to St. Helena8, the remote island in the South Atlantic, famous for housing Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile from France.

Map indicating location of St. Helena.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

After the Wireless Station in Mount Pearl was decommissioned, one of the Gardner generators was moved to St. Helena. William volunteered for four years’ service8 in St. Helena, managing the move of the generator and its operation upon arrival. 

While on St. Helena, William and Elsie lost two more children at birth, Helena Emily Manning (24 May 1925) and William Frederick Stanley Manning (23 February 1927). These losses were heartbreakingly similar to William’s own childhood with the loss of several of his infant siblings.

William and Elsie Manning on St. Helena. 
Images courtesy of Naomi Radbourne.

Return to England and Late Career

Following their time on St. Helena, William and Elsie returned to Devonport in March 19298. William spent time serving on HMS Vivid II and HMS Adventure8, a minelaying cruiser, built in Devonport13. 

On January 9, 193020, William and Elsie welcomed a daughter into the world, Shirley Grace Manning. She was their only child to survive into adulthood. 

During the 1930s, William served on:

• HMS Vindictive8, a reserve cruiser13

• HMS Herald8, a surveying ship13

• HMS Vivid8 (renamed HMS Drake in 1934), the shore establishment at Devonport13

• HMS Tenedos8 (attached to HMS Caledon), a destroyer13

• HMS Rodney8, a battleship, which later helped sink the Bismarck in 194113

• HMS Defiance8, a training ship and torpedo school13

William Manning served on HMS Vindictive from March-June 1931. 
Image courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.

18 Birchwell Ave, Plymouth.
Image courtesy of Google Maps.

In 1939, William, Elsie and Shirley were living at 18 Birchwell Avenue in Plymouth. William was in his final year of service, Elsie performed “unpaid domestic duties”20 and Shirley was at school.

William retired from the Royal Naval Reserve in 1940, at the age of 4921. He and Elsie continued to live at 18 Birchwell Avenue. Their daughter Shirley, married Alan Webber in 195023.

On September 7, 1961, at the age of 70, William Henry Manning passed away23. Elsie survived William, for 20 years, passing away in 1981. 

Family Tree:

Parents

1. William Henry MANNING (b. 1867, d. 30 July 1938), Engine Driver (stationary) for Royal William Victualling Yard

1. Son of John MANNING (b. 1826, d. 1900) Laborer, of South Brent, Devon, England, and Charlotte (Winchester) MANNING (b. 1829, d. 1879) of Brooking, Devon

2. Siblings: 

1. Sarah Jane MANNING (b. 1849)

2. Jane Agnes MANNING (b. 1851)

3. Elizabeth Manning (BISHOP) (b. 1858)

4. John Manning (b. 1860, d. 1861)

5. Charlotte Frances MANNING (b. 1864)

6. John Thomas MANNING (b. 1870)

7. Caroline Louisa (Manning) BRENTON (b. 1872)

3. 1871 Lived with parents at 2 Fort Street, Devon, Civil Parish Stoke Damerel1

4. 1901. Lived 15 26 Mount Street, Devonport3

5. 1911. Lived at 64 Hotham Place, Devonport Widowed, 7 children, 4 surviving4

2. Rosina (Westlake) MANNING (b. 1868, d. 11 Feb 1910)

1. Married in 27 April 1890

2. Daughter of Martha (Marshall) WESTLAKE (b. 1832), charwoman of Cornwall England and William WESTLAKE (b. 1834) of Devonport

3. Siblings:

1. Martha WESTLAKE (b. 1857)

2. William H. WESTLAKE (b. 1859)

3. John WESTLAKE (b. 1860) 

4. Joseph WESTLAKE (b. 1864)

5. Alfred WESTLAKE (b. 1872)

Siblings

1. Alfred James MANNING (b. 25 December 1893, d. 12 Jan 1895)

2. Frederick John MANNING (b. 15 May 1896, d. 25 September 1915)

1. Served as a Private in the Devonshire Regiment 8th Battalion, SN. 10935

2. Commemorated at Loos Memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery in Pas-de-Calais

3. Lilian Rose MANNING (b. 4 April 1898, d. 4 March 1899)

4. George MANNING (b. 3 March 1900, d. 3 March 1900)

5. Violet Maude (Manning) HARRIS (b. 23 January 1902, d. 1971)

1. Married Reginald Percival HARRIS (b. 29 July 1902, d. 11 August 1941)

1. Served on in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, on the Apple Leaf as Captain

2. Died and buried in Bombay, India

6. Reginald Charles MANNING (b. 1907, d. 1949)

1. Married twice

1. Emily (Linford) MANNING, m. 1925

2. Marion (Robertson) MANNING, m. 1930

2. Had 5 children

Wife

1. Elsie May (Cook) MANNING (b. 17 May 1888, d. 12 March 1981)

1. Daughter of William J. COOK (b. 1854, d. 1932) and Emily Sarah (Smith) COOK (b. 1857, d. 1925)

2. Siblings

1. Alfred Stanley COOK (b. 1890, d. 1917)

1. Royal Newfoundland Regiment, killed in action on April 14, 1917 in Monchy-le-Preux, France

2. Nina Gushue COOK (b. 1893, d. 1980)

3. Laura Blanche COOK (b. 1895, d. 1980)

Children

1. Phyllis Joyce MANNING (b. 15 July 1922, d. 10 August 1922)

2. Helena Emily MANNING (b. 24 May 1925, d. 24 May 1925)

3. William Frederick Stanley MANNING (b. 23 February 1927, d. 23 February 1927)

4. Shirley Grace (Manning) WEBBER (b. 9 Jan 1930, d. 2 July 1988)

1. Married Alan Raymond WEBBER (b. 10 Nov 1925)

References: 

1. 1871 Census, District Devonport, Civil Parish Stoke Damerel, pg. 47. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 2131; Folio: 47; Page: 7; GSU roll: 83203.

2. 1891 Census, District of Devonport, St. Stephen’s Parish, pg. 22, The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 1742; Folio: 14; Page: 22; GSU roll: 6096852

3. 1901 Census, William Manning, District of Devonport, St Stephen’s Parish, page 23, The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, Class: RG13; Piece: 2107; Folio: 130; Page: 23

4. 1911 Census, William Manning, 64 Hotham Place, Devonport. Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG14, 1911.

5. Wilson, John Marius. “Devonport.” In Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales, 2:565–66, 1872. https://archive.org/stream/imperialgazettee02wils#page/564/mode/2up.

6. A Pictorial and Descriptive Guide to Plymouth, Stonehouse, Devonport, and South-West Devon: With Numerous Excursions by Road, Rail, River, and Sea. 2nd ed. London: Ward, Lock and Company Ltd., 1901. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/njp.32101063057143.

7. 1911 Census, Violet Maude Manning, 3 High Street, Devonport. Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG14, 1911.

8. 1929 Register of Seamen’s Service, William Manning. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 912

9. Poole Museum. “Frederick Spear.” Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.pooleww1.org.uk/people/5167/frederick-spear/.

10. Hanna, Frank. “Two Small Ships from WW1: Appendix.” Accessed September 22, 2020. http://www.twosmallshipsfromworldwarone.org.uk/p/appendix.html.

11. FindAGrave: Private Frederick John Manning, 1915. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15350088/frederick-john-manning

12. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. “Frederick John Manning.” Accessed September 22, 2020. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/735667/FREDERICK%20JOHN%20MANNING/.

13. Dittmar, F.J, and J.J. Colledge. British Warships, 1914-1919. First Edition. Ian Allan, 1972. Index accessed at https://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishShips-Dittmar1.htm#num.

14. Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company Limited. Description & Specification of 30 KW Naval Wireless Station at St. John’s, 1915.

15. Newspaper Clipping from the Evening Telegram, (St. John’s, N.L.), 1921-06-17, vol. 43, no.133 - “Hymeneal.” Newspaper scan courtesy of the Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Digital Archive Initiative, http://collections.mun.ca/utils/getarticleclippings/collection/telegram20/id/9494/articleId/MODSMD_ARTICLE58/compObjId/9498/lang/en_US/dmtext/mount%20pearl!newton!briton

16. Service Record: Alfred Stanley Cook, 876. The Rooms Provincial Archives, Military Service Files, https://www.therooms.ca/sites/default/files/cook_alfred_stanley_876.pdf

17. 1921 Census of Newfoundland and Labrador, District of St. John’s West, Section from Fort Amherst to Waterford Bridge, pg. 513. Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, online record available on Ancestry.ca.

18. 1922 April 10, Passenger Lists, Digby, William, and Elsie Manning. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists.; Class: BT26; Piece: 711

19. Port Edgar Marina. “History of Port Edgar,” 2020. https://www.portedgar.co.uk/history.

20. 1939 England and Wales Register, The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/6797B

21. 1940 William Manning Service Card (Blue): The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, London; Admiralty: Royal Navy Seamen's Services Continuous Record (CR) Cards; Class: ADM 363; Piece: 161

22. 1950 Registration of Marriage, Shirley (Manning) Webber. General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office.

23. 1961 Probate registry: William Manning. Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England. Digital copy available at ancestry.ca

24. FindAGrave: Captain Reginald Percival Harris, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145232837/reginald-percival-harris