Stoker 1st class Albert Edward Bright

Albert Edward Bright was the son of William George Bright and Louisa (nee Dawson). His parents had married at Christchurch Battersea on 30th March 1873.
The Couple set up home in Cross Street, Battersea and William worked first as a fireman then as an engineer for the Electric Railway. By 1888 the growing family had moved to 16 Manderville Road in Battersea and by the census of 1891 the family were still at the same address with seven children: George 16, Eli 14, Rhoda 12, James 9, Louisa 7 Alice 3 and Emily aged 8 months. Their father was listed as an Electric Railway Engine Driver.

Albert Edward was their next child born on 29th October 1896 his birth registered in Battersea. Also this year his brother Eli had been promoted to Able Seaman with the Royal Navy.

Albert’s father William died two years later aged 49 and was buried in Morden on 12th October 1898.

By 1901 Albert was living with his mother and three sisters, Louisa, Alice and Emily at 4 Tennyson Road, South Wimbledon. Also sharing the property was a Thomas Sage who later married Louisa.

By 1911 Albert aged 14 is now working as a carriage cleaner. He is living with his mother and sister Emily at 19 Boyd Road Colliers Wood, the home of his sister Alice and her husband Arthur Davis and their one year old daughter ivy. The house had four rooms and Arthur’s brother William also shared the property. Albert’s mother was listed as a house keeper.

Living next door at number 17 Boyd Road was Albert’s brother James and his wife Rose and their three children Frederick aged 5, James 4 and Violet aged 2.

On 3rd July 1912 Albert aged 15 enrolled for the Royal Navy and enlisted for 12 years. He was described as 5 foot 8 inches tall, with brown hair and eyes and a fresh complexion. He gave his year of birth as 1893 pretending he was aged 18. At the outbreak of war Albert was serving on the Pembroke II. During the war he served on several ships and joined the crew of HMS Mary Rose an M-Class destroyer on 16th February 1917.

On 16th October 1917 a convoy of 12 merchant ships sailed from Norway, escorted by HMS Mary Rose and HMS Strongbow. At dawn the following day, the Captain of the Mary Rose observed two warships approaching. Their profiles and dark grey colour led him to assume they were British light cruisers. The approaching ships were in fact two German ships.

The German ships opened fire, quickly sinking HMS Strongbow. Shortly after the Mary Rose was hit in the engine room and disabled. The captain gave the order to scuttle the ship which sunk approximately 70 miles East of Lerwick, with only a handful of men surviving by clinging to a raft. With the escorts sunk the Germans proceeded to sink nine of the twelve merchant ships.

Albert was one of the many killed on 17th October 1917 aged 21. His body was not recovered for burial. He is remembered at Chatham Naval memorial and also at Christchurch, Colliers Wood along with his brother Eli who was killed in 1914 when his ship HMS Pathfinder was hit by a torpedo.

At the time of Albert’s death his mother Louisa was living at 7 Miller Road, Colliers Wood.