Stoker S. Parkin

Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Heslop's Local Advertiser

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:

Septimus Parkin was born at Felling Shore, Gateshead, County Durham, September 16th 1886. As his name indicates he was the seventh child, however, several of his siblings died in infancy as a result he was the 5th surviving son of 7 and had one sister. His parents George Parkin and Sarah Ann Forster were also natives of Felling Shore born in 1855, they were married at Gateshead in 1875. They can be found living next door to Sarah’s parents, Thomas and Sarah Forster, at 14, Brandling Place in 1881 with their three children, Thomas (5), Robert (4) and Jacob (8 months), George was employed as a labourer at the iron works. They had moved to Wesley Street by 1891 and he maintained his employment as a labourer, the elder children were all scholars. Between 1893 and 1901 George Parkin died in his mid forties, Sarah Ann moved back to Brandling Place with her family to live with her widowed mother Sarah (83). Both she and her mother were supported by her 4 unmarried sons working at the colliery, Jacob (20), George (19) and William (16) laboured above ground, Septimus (14) worked as a screener. Sarah Ann Parkin nee Forster died at Gateshead in 1908 aged 53 years.

Prior to his mother’s death, June 3rd 1907, Septimus had enlisted in the Royal Navy as Stoker 2nd Class, service number SS/105153 and was serving aboard H.M.S. Nelson, October 9th 1908 he was promoted to Stocker 1st Class now aboard H.M.S. Patrol. Between 1908 and 1911 he also served aboard the Dreadnought and back again to Victory II until he was transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve at Portsmouth having undertaken a second term of engagement.

During the 3rd quarter (Aug/Sep/Oct) 1912 he was married at Gateshead to Isabella Cairns born 1887 and with whom he had 2 children, George C. Parkin born in 1913 and Joseph in 1914.

Between December 9th 1914 and June 30th 1916 whilst serving with H.M.S. Blake he was given a sentence of 42 days detention having been absent without leave however this was commuted and July 29th 1915 he joined H.M.S. Victory II until November 13th 1915 when he was transferred H.M.S. Invincible.

H.M.S. Invincible had been assigned to British Home Waters, participated at the Battle of Heligoland Blight August 1914 in a supporting role before being ordered to the Falklands and January 1st 1915 she was in Malta for two months undergoing a refit before joining Battlecruiser Force at Rosyth. Invincible was joined by Indomitable in March and by Inflexible in June, after which the class formed the 3rd Battle Convoy Squadron. Refitted in May 1916 and with her sisters was detached to Scapa Flow for gunnery exercises and to replace the 5th Battle Squadron in the Grand Fleet.

Whilst at Scapa Flow, May 31st 1916, the Invincible engaged light cruisers of the German 2nd Scouting Group at 10,000 yds. Although her fire disabled the Wiesbaden and Pillau and then inflicted two serious hits on the battlecruiser Lutzow, her target, the Derfflinger scored five hits on her. The last shell blew the roof off Q-turret and set fire to the cordite propellant. The flash quickly reached the magazine and the Invincible was blown in half by a massive explosion. All but six of her crew were lost.

Stoker 1st Class SS/105153 Septimus Parkin was killed in action, May 31st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the names inscribed on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, commemorating members of the Royal Navy from both World Wars who have no known grave, having perished at sea where no permanent memorial could be raised. He was 29 years old.

His widow received confirmation of his death June 6th 1916 and received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 12, Brooms Place, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 23/06/1916

1st Class Stoker Septimus Parkin, killed in action on H.H.S. Invincible, R.F.R. on May 31st, aged 29 years. Husband of Isabella Parkin, 12 Brown's Place, Felling.

Septimus Parkin is remembered in Felling on F32.23 and on our List of Ships’ crews

HMS Invincible Roll of Honour
HMS Invincible
The CWGC entry for Stoker Parkin