Steward 2nd Class Arthur Henry Bearne


Service Royal Navy Service No. 359286(Dev)
Rank Steward 2nd Class
Ship:HMS Good Hope
Date of Birth: 20/06/1882
Born Dawlish
Date of Death: 01/11/1914
Memorial: Dawlish Memorial Inscription BEARNE A.H. STD. H.M.S.GOOD-HOPE.

Service History

Arthur Henry Bearne joined the Navy in 1901 and his previous occupation was shown as 'Waiter', and so it is natural that he should become an Officers' Steward. He was at R.N.Barracks, Keyham, Devonport in the 1901 census.

Arthur H Bearne was an Officers’ Steward, 2nd Class, Royal Navy when he joined on H.M.S. GOOD-HOPE in August 1914. H.M.S. Good Hope was one of a squadron of cruisers that fought a German squadron at the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile. The ship was hit by gunfire and sank with all hands. Bearne was killed in action and the body was not recovered for burial.

Association with Dawlish

Arthur Henry Bearne was the eldest child of Robert Bearne (1850 – 1894) and Sarah Ann (nee Mutters) (1859 – 1930) who lived in Queens Row, Old Town Street (census 1881).

Robert was a Mason’s Labourer. Sarah Ann was the daughter of James Mutters(1821- ), a farm labourer, and Mary Ann Voysey (1828-).

Arthur married Ethel Maud Morey (1886-1968) in Dawlish in April 1911, and a son was born the following year, Ronald Arthur Bearne, (1912 – 1990).

Ethel M Morey was one of seven children of Frederick John Morey, Marble Mason, and Emma Morey (nee Curtis) and in 1911 they lived at Little Cliff House, Dawlish, as a lodging house.

Ethel Maud Bearne died in the July to September quarter of 1968 aged 80.

Devon Roll of Honour
Additional Information Commonwealth War Graves Site


Next of Kin: Ethel Maud Bearne, widow.
Last Known Address: 1 Portland Terrace, Dawlish


Officers' Steward Arthur Henry Bearne

Battle of Coronel

Wrecksite.eu   H.M.S.GOOD HOPE

Royal Navy Service Record at National Archives, Kew

Free Birth Marriage & Death records

Refs via subscription sites:

Royal Navy & Royal Marines War Gave Roll 1914-1919.

Census data.

Ancestry family trees, Bennett, Keast,Pickup & Bearne