Needle, F
FRANK NEEDLE
Remembered with honour Portsmouth Naval Memorial: Panel 26.
He originally enlisted 19 April 1911 for 12 years: a grocer’s assistant, 5’3″ tall, as a Stoker II Class, his first ship being H.M.S. Victory II. He was aboard H.M.S. Venus when promoted to Stoker I Class 12 September 1912, and served on many ships before joining H.M.S. Paragon 26 May 1916. He was killed or died as a direct result of enemy action whilst attempting to fight off a German squadron; Paragon was torpedoed and sunk. His body was not recovered for burial; his mother of Watford was notified of his death. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and Star medals.
There is an article about Frank in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 31 March 1917; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 16 March 1918 and 22 March 1919.
Son of Emily Lavinia (nee SCARLETT) NEEDLE of Bloxham, Oxon, and the late Perry [or Charles James ?] NEEDLE.
His parents married 2 November 1876 at St Kenelm’s, Enstone, Oxon. Perry died 1899 in Watford aged 46, and was buried 11 August in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Emily died 1938 in Watford aged 81, and was buried 5 January, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Frank was born 18 March 1892 in Bloxham or Banbury, Oxon, and baptised 8 May 1892 at St Mary’s, Bloxham. He attended first Callow Land Infants’ School, Watford; then Callowland Board School from 9 January 1899 to 26 July 1904; he was awarded a bronze medal 10 February 1903 for four years’ attendance.
On the 1901 Census, aged 9 he lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a grocer’s assistant aged 19, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and three siblings.
Service number
K/11100 (Po)Rank
Stoker 1st ClassUnit
H.M.S. ParagonRegiment
Date of death
17 or 18/03/1917Age at death
25Place of death
Memorial(s)
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)