LOVE, Charles Edwin

Ship's Steward, HMS Indefatigable, Royal Navy
Service No: 209188
Died: 31/05/1916
Age: 38

Remembered on Plymouth Naval Memorial
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

Charles Edwin Love was born in Curran, Larne, on the 23rd January 1878. He was the son of John Love, a coastguard, and his wife Martha (nee Mickels) and the fifth of their eight children. Both his parents were from Cork and had married there in 1864. John was in the Royal Navy and was serving on HMS Cambridge, then in Devonport, at the time.

In 1870, when their first daughter was born, Charles' father had joined the coastguard in Malahide and by 1873, the family had moved north where John had taken up a posting to Islandmagee. Over the next decade, John took up posts in Larne, Glynn, and was Chief Boatman in the Carrickfergus station when he retired.

By 1901 the family were living in Mountcollyer Street, Belfast, before finally moving to Holborn Avenue in Bangor by 1911.

On leaving school Charles served on a number of merchant vessels before enlisting in the Royal Navy on 1st March 1900 becoming Ships Steward from leading seaman in 1906.

In 1908, he married Cecilia Amelia Annie Bastin in Devonport and the following year their son John Charles Beresford was born in Saltash, Cornwall.

On finishing his 12 years service, Charles re-enlisted on 1 March 1912.

On the outbreak of war, Charles was serving onboard HMS Indefatigable and was killed in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Plymouth Naval War Memorial.

Plymouth Naval War Memorial © CWGC