Robert Henry Royal Navy Ww1- survivor of shipwreck?

[liscoole]

Hi wonder if anyone can help.
Rumour has it in our family history that one of our ancestors died in asylum after trauma caused by being involved in a shipwreck in WW1.
I haven’t been able to find anything to corroborate this but would love some help in doing so. The name was Robert Henry born in Belfast, married Caroline Hall in the 30’s. He apparently was traumatised from being the survivor of a shipwreck during the First World War, would love to know if further details can be found?
Many thanks in advance for any assistance
Liscoole

[mckha489]

Would he be Frederick Robert McDonald HENRY. Dob 4 July 1900

If so his naval record is on FindMyPast.   You would have to go through the ships listed to see what happened to them , as it is just a list of ships and dates.

This data set. British Royal Navy Seamen 1899-1924

However, it may not be him? As only turned 18 towards end of war so any wreck would be post war.

There are other naval lists on FindMyPast but some you have to browse.

[cath151]

hi
Royal Marines records
There is a Robert Elliot Henry born 29th June 1894 Belfast
Sister Aileen and mother Mrs E? Murray (though both names hard to read)
List of ships including
Hilary   1 Jan 1917 - 29 March 1917  Ship sunk

This Robert sailed in ships after the above sinking.

Cathy

[liscoole]

Many thanks indeed to both of you for giving your time generously to search these records!

Cathy, that is definitely him. Can I ask where you found this info? Thank you so much! Now we have the name of the ship! Great progress, thanks again

[Mvann]

This is the info on the ship
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hilary_(1908)

[MaxD]

The date of the sinking was 29 May 1917 (badly written on his record) and he was on the vessel from December 1914.

 A goldmine of information on the excellent Naval History site for HMS Hilary here including its voyages and logs

 https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-08-HMS_Hilary.htm

MaxD

[liscoole]

Wow thank you MaxD!!! Great info. It’s particulary interesting that the crew witnessed the sea serpent days before the ship’s demise... and my dad is positive that family legend is that Robert Henry was completely traumatised from his experience on that ship. Probably what we now know to be PTSD.
Sad, but great to have the details now.
Revenge of the Sea Serpent maybe??!!
Again, many thanks!

[MaxD]

A couple of entries on his record may relate to his possible PTSD.

First of all he was invalided out of the service in December 1919 rather than simply ending his service time expired.

Second he appears to have been discharged from the Kalakara Naval Hospital in Malta, that can be seen very faintly at the end on the list of vessels.  There is the note "see 3949/19" which is obviously a reference to some other document probably totally unfindable now!

MaxD

[liscoole]

Wow! Excellent information thank you!!

We had no idea he spent time in a military hospital in Malta. I will try & find his death certificate to see if it gives more info. He did marry and had one son. We believe his son was very young when he died.

Great info thank you