BAREHAM, Victor



No.J/20193, Able Seaman, Victor BAREHAM
Aged 21


HM Submarine G9, Royal Navy
Killed by Friendly fire on Sunday, 16th September 1917


Victor (Vic)Bareham was born in Clare in 1st January 1896 (Risbridge Q1-1896 4A:736), baptised in Clare on 25th April 1897, son of George William and Ann BAREHAM (née PARKER).

1901 census...Aged 5, he was at Clare Leys Farm with his father George BAREHAM [42] farm labourer; his mother Ann [41]; brothers William [20], Robert [18], Samuel [16] (all farm labourers), Sidney [11] and Jack [7]; sisters Sarah A [14] and Doris M [2]. All were born in Clare.

Admitted to Clare School in March 1901,transferred to Mixed School 4th December 1903

His father died in Q1 of 1911

1911 census...Aged 15, a farm labourer,he was at Bridewell Street, Clare with his widowed mother, brothers William (horse man), Robert (carter), Samuel (horse man), Sidney Charles (farm labourer) and Jack (cow man); sister Doris May.

His mother was later at Common House, Common Street, Clare, where she is recorded still on the pension card


He joined the Royal Navy as a boy on 15th September 1912 at HMS Ganges and commenced training, until on January 1st 1914 he was old enough to sign as an Ordinary Seaman for 12 years service. His training continued at many various training establishments and he joined the monitor HMS Earl of Peterborough on 21st September 1915.

He the joined the submarine service on 17th May 1917 on the depot ship ship HMS Dolphin and then HMS Lucia on 31st July 1917. HMS Lucia was a captured German liner "Spreewald", converted to a submarine depot ship and based on the Tees. He was still on her strength when sent for training to G9.
He was aboard HM Submarine G9 for training when the G9 sailed from Scapa Flow to patrol between Shetland and Norway In bad weather she spotted HMS Pasley (destroyer) but mistook her for a German U boat and fired two torpedoes. One hit and failed to detonate, the other missed. Seeing the wake of the submarine the Pasley's officer of the watch ordered hard to starboard and rammed the G9, nearly cutting her in two. She sank in less than a minute, with the loss of all the crew except one man. The court of enquiry exonerated the Captain and Watch Officer of the Pasley and concluded that the reason for G9 mistaking HMS Pasley for a U-boat remained unexplained.


His relative supplied this photo of Victor, serving on HMS Hannibal






photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Victor Bareham is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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