Trainor, C (Charles)
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Able Seaman Charles Trainor was the son of George and Mary Trainor, of Nelson Street, Londonderry husband of Catherine Trainor, 9, North St., Londonderry. He was a keen boxer and played football with a local team called Derry Rangers F.C. Officially his name is listed as “Trainor,” but local media spelt his name as “Traynor.”
On the 15th of October 1914, Charles Trainor was onboard HMS Hawke,[1] which was on patrol with her sister ship HMS Theseus[2] as part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, in the North Sea. H.M.S. Hawke stopped to get mail from H.M.S. Endymion[3] when it was spotted by German U-Boat SM-U9.[4] The ship though soon departed but did not do its usual zig-zagging manoeuvres so it could catch up with the rest of the squadron. At around 10:30 in the morning a torpedo was sighted, but it was too late to do anything, it struck the ship in the forward magazine. The Hawke immediately exploded and sank fast, 524 souls were lost with only 70 survivors, Charles was one of them. He was in the water and had two broken ribs. He would suffer from exposure before being rescued.
Six months later Charles Trainor was on home leave from his new ship, H.M.S. Crescent[5] after escorting German prisoners to England when he was rushed to hospital. He unfortunately died from a perforated ulcer.
Able Seaman Charles Trainor was buried with full naval and military honours on the 20th of April 1915. It had a large turnout, including his father and three brothers.
Charles was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals.
Date of Death: 18/04/1915 (Aged 44)
Service: Able Seaman, Royal Navy (RFR/CH/B/1353). H.M.S. Crescent and H.M.S. Hawke
Service Number: 177805
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, MD. 250.
[1] HMS Hawke was an Edgar-class cruiser and was launched March 1891.
[2] HMS Theseus was an Edgar-class cruiser and was launched September 1892 and scrapped after the war during November 1921.
[3] HMS Endymion was an Edgar-class cruiser and was launched July 1891 and scrapped after the war during March 1920.
[4] U-Boat SM-U9 was launched February 1910 and would survive the war, surrendering September 1918.
[5] H.M.S. Crescent was an Edgar-class cruiser and was launched March 1892 and scrapped after the war during September 1921.
