Heslop's Local Advertiser
Chatham Naval Memorial
H.M.S. Hampshire
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
Daniel Mullen was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, January 8th 1896, one of 11 known children he was the sixth born son of 7 and had 3 sisters. His parents Andrew Mullen and Isabella Traynor were both born in 1861 at Felling and married at Gateshead in 1880. Newly married and with their one year old daughter Hannah they were living with Isabella’s parents, James and Margaret Traynor and her sister Margaret Jane (16) and brother Thomas (9), at Nest Road, Felling Shore, Andrew was employed as a chemical labourer. Ten years later they had moved to Ballast Hill, his employment remained unchanged until 1901 when he was employed as a boiler maker, eldest son James (18) was employed as a chemical labourer. By 1911 Andrew is listed in the census as married but living alone with his children, It is my belief this entry is an error and that he was widowed in 1908 just after his wife gave birth to their youngest child Elizabeth in 1907. Andrew and son Andrew Jnr worked as boiler stokers at the chemical works, Thomas (21) as a blacksmith’s apprentice, John (14) was a coal hawker and Joseph (15) employed as a general labourer, Daniel was 15 years old, neither he or his brother Hugh (13) were employed and along with his siblings Isabella (11) and Elizabeth (4) they are not listed as being scholars.
On the outbreak of war Daniel was 18 years of age and assigned to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as Able Seaman Tyneside Z/5666 and at the time of his demise was serving aboard H.M.S.Hampshire.
Built between 1902-1904 at Chatham dockyard H.M.S. Hampshire was a 1st Class armoured cruiser with an illustrious past and took part at the Battle of Jutland. June 5th 1916 at 4.40 pm she left Scapa Flow and rendezvoused just off south west Hoy with destroyers Victor and Unity, who were to be her escort during this important voyage. Aboard the Hampshire was Lord Kitchener bound for St. Petersburg Russia in an attempt to persuade the Czar and his generals to remain in the war. An hour after their departure the ships hit heavy weather and swells and were forced to reduce speed, some two hours into the journey Hampshire first signalled to Unity and then to Victor that they should return to port while she carried on and faced the gale alone.
Unbeknown to Hampshire 22 mines each had been laid by U-72, U-74 and U-75 off Firth of Fourth, Moray Firth and Orkney Islands At 20.30 hours, 1.5 nautical miles from shore between Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head, June 5th 1916, the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Hampshire stuck one of these mines and sank within 15 minutes. In the heavy seas it was impossible to get any boats away and as she capsized of the 655 crew only 12 men managed to make their way to shore on a float. The remainder of the crew including Lord Kitchener and his Staff died in the icy waters before help could reach them.
The bodies of over 100 officers and men were recovered however Able Seaman Tyneside Z5666 Daniel Mullen was not amongst them. His name is one of those inscribed on the Chatham Memorial, an obelisk situated overlooking the town of Chatham, Kent, commemorating those who died at sea during conflict and have no known grave. Recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 23/6/1916
"A.B. Daniel Mullen, lost on H.M.S. Hampshire, June 5th, aged 20 years. 6th son of Andrew and the late Isabella Mullen, of Ballast Hill, Felling Shire."
Daniel Mullen is remembered in Felling on F32.06 and on our List of Ships’ crews.
