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Richard Boraman and Robert Hacken were both born in December 1894. They both attended Ash Vale School and were listed on the School Roll of Honour in 1915 as in the RMLI on HMS Hampshire. They had enlisted together aged 17 in 1912 at Southampton, had both joined HMS Europa in December 1913 and HMS Hampshire in December 1914. Along with Charles Payne and Albert Lynn, they perished together on 5 June 1916, when HMS Hampshire was sunk by a mine off the Orkneys whilst taking Lord Kitchener to north Russia on a secret mission.
All four men are remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and on the Ash War Memorial.
Boraman, Richard John The Surrey and Hants News of 22 June 1916 reported that Richard Boraman was the 4th son of Mr and Mrs C.J. Boraman of Belleview, Firacre Road. His brother James Henry was also in the RMLI. Richard Boraman’s Service Record (TNA ADM/159/190) records that he was able to swim, and had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He was 5’ 5¼” tall when he enlisted, and he had been a plumber’s mate.
Hacken, Robert Frederick Robert Hacken was the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Hacken of 1 Pollard’s Cottages, Vale Road (Commonwealth War Graves Commission website). The Surrey and Hants News 22 June 1916 reported that he was Mrs Hacken’s eldest son, and that he had been 6’ 3” tall and devoted to his widowed mother. Mrs Hacken’s other son was 15 and was in the band of the Royal Fusiliers. Robert Hacken’s Service Record (TNA ADM/159/190) records that he could swim and was 5’ 8¾” tall when he enlisted, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and hair, and a scar on the left side of his head and neck. It gives his mother’s address as 2 Hope Town Villas. He had been a carpenter’s mate.
Lynn, Albert Edward Albert Lynn was baptised at St Peter’s Church 19 August 1896, the son of George Henry and Alice Mary Lynn. His father was a hairdresser (born in Canada) and his mother was a laundress, and the family lived at Ash Vale. Albert Lynn’s Service Record (TNA ADM/159/189) records that his mother, Mrs Swift, was his next of kin and had changed her address from Firacre Road to Fulham. When he enlisted 28 November 1911 (with Charles Read), he was 5’ 7” tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He had been a “garden boy” and he had a scar on his left knee. He served on HMS Ariadne, HMS Europa and HMS Hampshire.
Payne, Charles The Surrey and Hants News 22 June 1916 reported that Charles Payne was the son of Mr and Mrs Henry Payne of 1 Lily Cottages, Shawfields Road. He had been previously employed by the Aldershot Gas and Water Company, and was devoted to his mother. It was news she could hardly bear. She had also just heard that her other son Cpl Henry Albert Payne 10th Hampshire Regiment was now a cripple for life having lost both his hands. He had fought in the Dardanelles, and was a 32 year old man with 6 children. He lived in Portsmouth where he had been in the Gosport Fire Brigade. Another son, Bert Ernest Payne, had been wounded at Ypres. |