763081 Trimmer Richard William Longmaid, Mercantile Marine Reserve H.M.S. Alcantara
- Amanda T
- Oct 2, 2021
- 3 min read
Identification
There was only one result for R W Longmaid in the CWGC database and he was from Liverpool.
Family Information
Richard William Longmaid was born in Liverpool on 7th Dec 1894 and christened on 18th Feb 1895. His parents were Richard Henry Augustus and Sarah Anne Longmaid of 15 Emerson Street.
The 1901 census shows that William's father was a seaman (merchant service) and was born in Cornwall. Richard was the second of 4 children with an older sister Sarah E J(aged 7) and younger siblings Louise H (3) and Edith E (1). The family were living at 17 Emerson Street, Liverpool.
The 1911 census shows that the family were living at 31 Penrith St, Liverpool. Richard Senior was still working as a mariner aged 63. Richard Junior (aged 16) was a cabin boy, his sister Sarah (aged 17) was a tailoress.
Military Service
Richard W Longmaid's service papers show that on 8th Jan 1915 he volunteered to serve in the British Army Territorial Force, he was embodied and posted immediately, given the rank of Gunner in the 1st West Lancs Brigade RFA and the regimental number 1551.
His medical examination shows that Richard Longmaid was 20 years old, 5feet 9 inches tall and had good physical development. His chest measurement was 37 inches, eyesight in his left eye was poor and in his right eye was fair. Overall, he was considered fit for service in the Territorial Force. His address was 31 Penrith St and next of kin was his father.
Discharge papers for Richard show that he was discharged from the 2nd Line, 1st West Lancs Brigade Royal Field Artillery at Windsor Barracks, Spekeland St, Liverpool on 31st August 1915 after 236 days of service.
At this time he was 20 years and 9 months old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, he had a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark hair, his trade was given as labourer and he had tattoo marks on each arm.
Richard was discharged under King's Regulation 392 para XVI (no longer physically fit for war service). No reason was given for this on the surviving service record. His military character was very good and his character awarded in accordance with king's regulations was very good.
After his discharge from the army Richard served with the Merchant Navy. He entered the Merchant Marine Reserve (whereby a number of officers and men of the Merchant Marine agreed to serve with the Royal Navy under the terms of T.124 agreements, which made them subject to Naval discipline while generally retaining their Merchant Marine rates of pay and other conditions.) His number with the Mercantile Marine Reserve was 263081, pension records list it as 2209 but this could be the pension claim number written in the wrong place on the form.
Death and Commemoration
Richard Longmaid died aged 21 on 29/2/1916 when his ship the H.M.S. Alcantara was sunk.
The newspaper report below is from the London Times 27/3/1916. Richard is listed under 'specially entered Mercantile crew'.
The medal roll below records Richard Longmaid's medal entitlement (source: national archives)
Tr = rank: trimmer ST = star, V= victory B=British Mr=how the medal was issued (Mother?) I.C etc = Index casualty number
Description
English: HMS Alcantara engages the German raider Grief on 29 February 1916, in the North Sea. Both ships sank.
Date: 10 December 2012, 17:11:22
Source: The Times History and Encyclopaedia of the War Vol XXI, London 1920 (p.127) via archive.org
Author: Unknown artist
The information in the CWGC database shows that his sevice number was 763081, confirms that he was the son of Richard and Sarah A Longmaid of 31 Penrith St, Liverpool and shows that his name can be found on Panel 20 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
The notice below was posted in the Liverpool Echo by his family for the anniversary of Richard's death, 1st March 1917
LONGMAID- In loving memory of Richard Longmaid who was lost in the sinking of H.M.S. Alcantara in the North Sea, on February 29, 1916 - Ever remembered by his sorrowing Mother, Father and Sisters.
LONGMAID - In loving memory of my brother, who was lost in the sinking of H.M.S. Alcantara, in the North Sea, on February 29, 1916 - Ever remembered by his sorrowing sister Louie.
As Richard was single, his mother recieved a pension.
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