Harlow War Memorial Institute
Henry George Banham – Died: 05/05/1918 – Age 19
Telegraphist on H.M.S. Rhododendron Service No. J/27546
Henry joined the Royal Navy straight from school, before the war, at the age of 15 as a Ship's Boy. Having risen to Ship's Boy 1st Class, he enlisted as an adult on his 18th Birthday.
He served on a total of nine ships, the last being H.M.S. Rhododendron where he served as a Wireless Telegraphist.
Torpedoed by U70 in the North Sea off the Orkney Islands on 5th May 1918, H.M.S. Rhododendron sank the following morning.
4 of the crew were killed in the initial explosion and 11 were lost at sea, including Henry. He was 19 years old.
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Launched on 15th October 1917 at Irvine's in West Hartlepool, the Anchusa class corvette H.M.S. Rhododendron had a short career.
U70 torpedoed and sank 53 merchant ships, damaged a further 4 and sank 1 warship, H.M.S. Rhododendron.
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William Henry Banham M.C. – Died: 08/09/1918 – Age 24
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William died of wounds caused by gas on 8th September 1918 and is buried in La Kreule Military Cemetery Hazebrouck,in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, grave 3.D.8
The Banham Brothers were the sons of William. H. and Alice Jane Banham, of East Villa, Harlow, Essex.
In April 1909, the Chelmsford Chronicle and the Essex Newsman both reported that, aged 11, Henry was run over by a motor vehicle in London Road, Mark Hall, Harlow.
Despite the vehicle completely running over him, he escaped serious injury.
Second Lieutenant William Henry Banham was commissioned into the RFA on 16th April 1917. He served in France with “A” Battery of the 119th Brigade – Royal Field Artillery.
William was awarded the Military Cross for Distinguished Service on 05.11.1918
London Gazette 17.11.1918
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"Military Cross. William Henry Banham. His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of Military Cross in recognition of his gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field. For conspicuous gallantry and initiative. Under heavy enemy shell fire, with the help of a non-commissioned officer and another man, he dug out several men who were buried in a dug-out by the explosion of a shell and extinguished a dangerous fire caused by the ignition of ammunition in a gun pit, which was spreading along the camouflage to other gun pits.
His promptitude and disregard for his own safety undoubtedly saved many lives"
119th Field Artillery - France
H.M.S. Rhododendron in 1918
DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY