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Name : Vernon George Midlane Son of : Harry Midlane and Amy Midlane (née Trussler) of Newport, Isle of Wight. Born : 8th June 1879 at 47 Trafalgar Road, Newport. Married : 22nd February 1909, Kate Emily Harley, at St Paul's Church, Barton, Newport. At the time he was serving at H.M.S. Excellent (Whale Island) in Portsmouth. Children : Vera May (born 1909); Amy Victoria (born 1910), Daisy Clara (born 1912). |
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Census information : 1881 : Harry and Amy Midlane, with their children including Vernon aged 1, are at 47 Trafalgar Road, Newport. Harry Midlane is a Carriage Painter. 1891 : Harry and Amy Midlane, with their children including Vernon aged 11, are at 2 Kelly Cottages, 61 Trafalgar Road, Newport. Harry Midlane is a Carriage Painter. 1901 : The family are at 4 Linden Terrace, Clarence Road, Newport, but Vernon is not listed there. (Presumed to be with the Royal Navy). 1911 : Vernon and Emily Midlane, with their children, are living with her parents at 4 Excelsior Terrace, Green Street, Newport. Vernon Midlane is a Seaman, R.N. |
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Service Details : AB 181332 Vernon George Midlane, H.M.S. Queen Mary, Royal Navy. Vernon George Midlane enlisted as a Boy 2nd class in the Royal Navy on the 29th November 1895 at the age of 16, on a 12 year engagement. He gave his date of birth as 29th November 1877, thus adding 2 years to his real age, and gave his occupation as a painter [He worked in the family coach-painting business). At the time he was 5 ft 6 in tall, with light brown hair and hazel eyes. By 1907 he had put on 2 inches, and acquired a tattoo of his initials "VM" on his left wrist. Vernon served in a number of Naval vessels and shore establishments, rising through the ratings to become an Able Seaman in 1912. His career was not without misdemeanours - he spent a total of 12 days in Cells for unspecified offences, but he was also awarded 3 Good Conduct payments. At the outbreak of the Great War, Vernon was serving on H.M.S. Queen Mary, a battlecruiser. His Sub-Rating was as a Gun layer 2nd class. On the 31st May 1916, the ship was sunk during the Battle of Jutland with the loss of all but 9 of her complement of 1266 officers and ratings. |
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Casualty Details : Died : 31 May 1916, aged 36. Commemorated at : Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. CWGC Record 
V G Midlane's name at Portsmouth Naval Memorial |
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Commemorated on these Memorials :
County War Memorial, Carisbooke Castle Newport Borough War Memorial St John's Church, Newport St Paul's Church, Barton, Newport Newport C.E. National School War Memorial and on his parents' headstone in Mount Joy Cemetery, Carisbrooke. (not yet recorded) |
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Links :
Wikipedia HMS Queen Mary entry |
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Acknowledgments :
Graham Cullin for family information. Graham is a grandson of Vernon Midlane. |
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Page status :
Page last updated : 17 April 2014 |
Memorials & Monuments
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