Roll of Honour

Lost on the battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable.

Albert Chappell was born in West Hartlepool  on 25^th July 1889. In 1891, he was a 1 year old living at 19, Gill Street, with his parents John, who was a labourer from Goole, and his wife Elizabeth (nee Smurthwaite), of Haverton Hill. They married in Hartlepool in February 1860. Over a period of 20 years, this couple had at least 6 boys and  2 girls, Albert possibly being the youngest.

The 1901 Census shows the family living in Jersey Street, with John Chappell's occupation given as a Navvy. Only Albert and his 28 year old unmarried sister Dorothy were at home with their parents, along with a baby grand-daughter Elizabeth.

In 1911 the Albert was in Briar Street and living with his sister Margery Carvell, her husband of 12 years John Carvell and their son John. Also in the house was his mother Elizabeth Chappell by then a widow and Lizzy Chappell the grand-daughter by then aged 10. Albert was 22 and a Shunter on the railway.

Prior to Albert’s birth, his parents had lived at various address, including Musgrave Street in 1881, Brickyard Cottage in 1871 and Carlisle Place, Stranton Lane, in 1861. In each of these entries John Chappell was listed as an engine driver.

In World War 1, Albert was in the RNR serving as a stoker on HMS Indefatigable. On 31^st May, 1916 during the Battle of Jutland, his ship was hit by a shell from the German ship Von der Tann and blew-up. Albert was one of the 1019 casualties. His body was never recovered.
His niece Elizabeth, whom his parents had brought up, was living at 27 Topciffe Street, West Hartlepool, at this time.