Stories from the Station: Henry William Candey, Temporary Warrant Telegraphist

Henry William Candey (1896-1917) 

Henry Candey in 1917. 
Image courtesy of the Clem Scott Collection, 006-001-003.

Date of Birth: Early 1896

Place of Birth: Canterbury England

Date of Death: 14 September 1917

Burial Place: Forest Road Anglican Cemetery, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Served at HM Wireless Station: 1917

Duty: Temporary Warrant Telegraphist

Early Life

Henry William Candey was born in early 1896, near Canterbury, Kent in England1.

Henry had an older sister, Edith, who was born in May 18941.

Little is known about Henry and Edith’s early life. In 1901, at the age of 5, Henry (called Willie at the time) was living with Edith as “nurse children” with the Hubbard family in Canterbury1. This was likely a foster-type relationship, as the Hubbards had several nurse children in the home in addition to their children.

1901 Census of England and Wales, showing Edith and Henry (Willie) Cand[e]y
in the care of the Hubbard family.
Image courtesy of ancestry.ca

By 1911, Edith and Henry had returned to the care of their mother, Jane. At this point, Jane was listed as a widow, which may explain why the children were separated from Jane in 19012. It was not uncommon for widows and widowers to leave their children in the care of others following the death of their spouse. This allowed them time to make arrangements, settle estates or remarry without having to care for small children. 

The family resided at 75 Clare Road in Whitstable, a seaside community in the county of Kent, just north of Canterbury2.

75 Clare Street, Whitstable, Kent, England (left side).
Henry Candey spent his teenage years living in this house with his mother and sister.
Image courtesy of Google Maps.

Henry attended Simon Langton School, a grammar school in Canterbury. He was academically minded and won the Kent Senior Scholarship in 19113.

Whitstable Times, July 1911.

In October 1915, at the age of 19, Henry joined the British Postal Service as a Certified Wireless Operator44. Work in the communications field was a vital role during the First World War. Henry would take his experience in the civilian field and soon use it to support British military efforts. 

Naval Service

On February 24, 1917, Henry was appointed the rank of Temporary Warrant Telegraphist in the Royal Naval Reserve5. His commission would have been intended to be for the duration of the war, hence the Temporary status. Such transitions to Royal Navy service were common amongst the British Postal Service, as their work became increasingly military in nature. 

Henry was assigned to HMS Briton in St. John’s, Newfoundland and was tasked with work as a telegraphist at the top-secret wireless station in Mount Pearl5.

HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl. 
Image courtesy of Clem Scott.

While at the station Henry would have worked closely with fellow telegraphist, James Bouteillier. His colleagues included Newfoundland Royal Naval Reservists such as William Alcock, Nicholas Avery, William Gilbert, Ernest Murley, and George Squires. He also would have worked alongside Chief Petty Officer William Sandy Elton, of the Royal Navy. 

Death

Henry’s young life was cut short on September 14, 1917. In the early hours of the morning, Henry was electrocuted6. 

News reports following the accident identify that Henry was the telegraphist on-duty the morning of September 147,8,9. Alone in the transmission building, Henry appeared to have accidentally come into contact with the transformer. As a result, the full current, about 13,000 volts9, was sent through his body. 

St. John's Daily Star, 1917-09-14.
Image courtesy of the 
Memorial University Digital Archive Initiative 

Evening Telegram, 1917-09-14.
Image courtesy of the
Memorial University Digital Archive Initiative 

Accounts vary as to whether or not he was killed instantaneously, however by the time the Fleet Surgeon arrived at the station from HMS Briton, it was clear that Henry was beyond saving9,10.

St John's Daily Star, 1917-09-15 “Henry Candie Electrocuted”

Evening Advocate, 1917-09-15 “How Henry Candie Lost his Life”

Images courtesy of the Memorial University Digital Archive Initiative.

Two days later, on September 16, 1918, a full naval funeral procession was held. Henry’s body was brought from HM Wireless Station to HMS Briton, where the funeral procession began. An honour guard and the Church Lads Brigade Band accompanied his remains to the Anglican Cemetery on Forest Road11.

Evening Telegram, 1917-09-15.
Image courtesy of the Memorial University Digital Archive 
Initative.

Image courtesy of Admiralty House Communications Museum.

Image courtesy of Admiralty House Communications Museum.

Back home in England, the news of Henry’s death was quickly received by his mother and sister12.

The Whitstable community was saddened by his passing13.

Whitstable Times, September 22, 1917.

In 1920, the Whitstable War Memorial was unveiled which included Henry Candey14. 

Whitstable War Memorial. 
Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.

Edith and Jane Candey remained in Whitstable. They lived comfortably in their house on Northwood Avenue, which was commonly referred to as “Woolahra”15. Edith cared for her mother, and according to local newspapers was involved in a number of local charitable organizations including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

64 Northwood Road, Whitstable. Known as “Woolahra”.

Edith and Jane Candey resided here until Jane’s death. 

Image courtesy of Google Maps.

By 1939, Jane, now 78 years old, was “incapacitated” and Edith was performing domestic duties and caring for her mother15. 

1939 Register of England and Wales. 
Jane and Edith Candey were living in Whitstable. 
Image courtesy of ancestry.ca

Shortly afterwards, in 194317,18, Jane passed away, leaving Edith her entire estate16. This large estate explains how Edith and Jane were able to live comfortably over the years, without working outside the home. Jane’s estate was valued at £7556 19s16, which is about £346,787 ($613,292 CAD) in current value.

Whitstable Times, 1943-04-10.

Edith passed away in 1982. There are no known surviving members of the Candey family in close relation to Henry Candey. 

Other Notes:

Little is known about Henry’s parents. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database, his father was also named Henry Candey. No records were found that could corroborate this. 

No record of Jane Candey could be found prior to 1911. 

The name of the Candey home in Whitstable, “Woolahra” appears similar to the Australian place name “Woollahra”. It is possible that either Jane or Henry’s father spent time in Australia, which may explain the large estate held by Jane and Edith. 

Family Tree:

Parents:

1. Jane CANDEY (b. 1 January 1861, d. 31 March 1943)

1. Born in Landport, Hampshire

2. Henry CANDEY

1. Unconfirmed

Siblings:

1. Edith CANDEY (24 May 1894, d. 3 July 1982)

1. Born in Hastings, Sussex

1. 1901 Census of England and Wales. District: Canterbury. Page. 7. Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1901.

2. 1911 Census of England and Wales. District: Whitstable. Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1911

3. Newspaper Clipping from the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (Whitstable, UK). 1911-07-29, “Merit Awards.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive.

4. 1915 British Postal Service Appointment Books, 1737-1969. British Postal Museum and Archive; Series: POST 58; Reference Number: 111

5. 1917, August. UK, Navy Lists, 1888-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

6. Newspaper Clipping from the St. John’s Daily Star (St. John’s, NL). 1917-09-14, “Naval Man Electrocuted.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the Memorial University Digital Archive Initiative.

7. Newspaper Clipping from the Evening Telegram (St. John’s, NL). 1917-09-14, “Warrant Officer Henry Candley.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the Memorial University Digital Archive Initiative

8. Newspaper Clipping from the St. John’s Daily Star (St. John’s, NL). 1917-09-15, “Henry Candie Electrocuted When on Duty, and Alone.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the Memorial University Digital Archive Initiative

9. Newspaper Clipping from the Evening Advocate (St. John’s, NL). 1917-09-15, “How Henry Candie Lost His Life.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the Memorial University Digital Archive Initiative

10. Newspaper Clipping from the Evening Telegram (St. John’s, NL). 1917-09-15, “Naval Funeral To-Morrow.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the Memorial University Digital Archive Initiative

11. Newspaper Clipping from the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (Whitstable, UK). 1917-09-22, “Thanks.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive.

12. Newspaper Clipping from the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (Whitstable, UK). 1917-09-22, “Death of Warrant Telegraphist.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive.

13. Newspaper Clipping from the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (Whitstable, UK). 1919-05-10, “Whitstable’s Monumental War Memorial.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive.

14. 1939 England and Wales Register, Borough: Whitstable. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/1800A

15. 1943 Jane Candey Probate Calendar. Probate Registry, Llandudno. 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.

16. Newspaper Clipping from the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (Whitstable, UK). 1943-04-3, “The death occurred.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive.

17. Newspaper Clipping from the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (Whitstable, UK). 1943-04-10, “The Late Mrs. Candey.” The newspaper scan is courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive.