Gunner Eli Francis Bright

Eli Francis Bright was the son of William George Bright and Louisa (nee Dawson). His parents had married at Christchurch Battersea on 30th March 1873 and by the time Eli was born on 2nd October 1876 they already had one other son called George. The family lived at 41 Cross Street in Battersea and William worked as a Fireman.

By 1888 the growing family had moved to 16 Manderville Road, Battersea and Eli’s father was now working as an engineer for the Electric Railway. By 1891 the family were still at the same address now with seven children: George aged 16, Eli aged 14 was working in a laundry, Rhoda 12, James 9, Louisa 7 Alice 3 and Emily aged 8 months. Their father was listed as an Electric Railway Engine Driver.

Eli joined HMS Boscawen, a training ship for boys in March 1892 as a Boy 2nd class. Records show he was baptised on 27th November 1892 aged 16, at Portland, St. Peter in Dorset and was one of about 20 young boys baptised by the Chaplain of HMS Boscawen. His family address was given as 16 Manderville Road, and his father was listed as an Electrical Engineer.

On completion of his training Eli enlisted with the Royal Navy on the 2nd October 1893 for a 12 year period. His birth year was listed as 1875 making him appear aged 18 when he was in fact 17 years of age. Eli newly promoted to Ordinary Seaman joined HMS Victory I. His appearance was described as 5ft 6 ½ inches tall with black hair, brown eyes and a ruddy complexion. By 1st July 1896 he had been promoted to Able Seaman.

Eli had one other brother called Albert Edward who was born in October 1896. His father William, died two years later aged 49 and was buried in Morden on 12th October 1898.

By 1901 Eli’s mother was now living at 4 Tennyson Road, South Wimbledon with four children. Eli himself was listed as a member of crew on the Royal Navy ship the St. George anchored in Aden.

By 1905 Eli had now been with the Royal Navy for 12 years and continued to serve. Like many sailors he now sported a bracelet tattoo on his left wrist and a woman on his forearm. By October 1909 Eli had been promoted to Gunner.

He Married Annie Esther Sage in 1910. Annie was a local girl from Camberwell. The census of 1911 show Eli and his wife Annie listed as boarders at 176 Pasley Street, in Devonport Devon he and Annie had been married less than a year.

At the beginning of 1914 Eli had now joined HMS Pathfinder. At the start of the First World War, HMS Pathfinder was part of the 8th Destroyer flotilla based at Rosyth in the Firth of Forth – a major British Naval base. On 5th September 1914 HMS Pathfinder was out on patrol when she was spotted by an enemy submarine. Travelling at a mere five knots (due to a shortage of coal throughout the Royal Navy at the time) made her an easy target. The enemy sub fired a torpedo. HMS Pathfinder tried to take evasive action, but was unable to do so. The torpedo struck the ship beneath the bridge, which in turn caused a second, more massive explosion which broke the ship in two. HMS Pathfinder instantly began sinking, dragging most of her crew down with her with the loss of life estimated at 250 men. The vessel sank so quickly there was no time to launch lifeboats.

Authorities at the time attempted to cover up the fact that HMS Pathfinder had been sunk by a torpedo, insisting that it had struck a mine. In fact HMS Pathfinder was the first ship ever to be sunk by a self-propelled torpedo fired by a submarine. Eli aged 37, was killed that day.

He is remembered at Portsmouth Naval memorial and also at Christ Church Colliers Wood along with his youngest brother Albert Edward who also joined the Royal Navy and was killed in Action in October 1917 whilst serving on HMS Mary Rose. At the time of Eli’s death his mother Louisa was living at 19 Boyd Road, Colliers Wood.