Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
John Sanford was born on 27th March or April 1882 in Dorking, Surrey and was baptised on 5th July 1882 at St Martin’s church in Dorking. At the time of the baptism the family lived at Dene Street, Dorking and Henry Edward was working as a labourer.
On 30th October 1888, John was admitted into the St Martin’s Church of England School for boys in Dorking. At the time of his admission the family lived in Cape Place. John left the school on 18th December 1894.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at 10 Church Gardens in Dorking. Henry was working as a general labourer and Elizabeth was looking after their children: Louisa Hannah, George Henry, John, Elizabeth Lily and Beatrice Fanny. The family further comprise of a boarder: groom Charles Croucher.
John Sanford enlisted into the Royal Navy on 27th April 1900 for a duration of 12 years. He had light brown hair, hazel eyes and a fair complexion. His service number was 199941. He was an Ordinary Seaman. Prior to his enlistment John served on the naval training ship T. S. Arethusa.
John’s first service day started on 27th April 1900 on board of HMS Thunderer. He became an Able Seaman in April 1901.
At the time of the 1901 Census, John Sanford was an ordinary seaman in the Royal Navy at Aden.
John served on several ships during his years in the Royal Navy. Including: HMS Thunderer, HMS St George, HMS Vernon, HMS Enchantress, HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Hibernia, HMS Egmont, HMS Victory I, HMS Goliath, HMS Revenge, HMS Eclipse, HMS Hermione or HMS Liverpool. The last ship John was serving on was HMS Victory I. He served on her from 20th April 1912 to 30th April 1912.
On 27th April 1912, John Sanford joined the Royal Fleet Reserve.
John Sanford married Ellen Bassford in the 3rd quarter of 1913 in Atherstone, Warwickshire.
John and Ellen had a son: John Henry, who was born on 15th December 1913 in Atherstone. He died in 1998 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He was 84 years old.
John Sanford died on 15th July 1916 inside the HM Submarine H3 in the Adriatic. The H3 was mined whilst patrolling off the Austrian Naval base of Cattaro. John was part of the Royal Fleet Reserve.
He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. His panel reference is 13.
After John’s death, Ellen Sanford lived at 82 Long Street, Dordon, Tamworth, Warwickshire.
Sanford Family History
John’s father Henry was born in the 4th quarter of 1843 in Dorking to labourer John, born about 1810 in Reigate, Surrey and Hannah, born about 1808 in Dorking. Henry was baptised on 12th November 1843 at St Martin’s church in Dorking. At the time of the baptism, the family lived in West Street, Dorking and John was working as a labourer. At the time of the 1871 Census, the family lived in Cape Place, Dorking. The household comprised of the widowed Hannah and her two sons: moulder Henry Edward and ostler James.
His mother Elizabeth West was born in the 2nd quarter of 1852 in Woking, Surrey to labourer and later gardener George, born about 1818 in Kennington, Surrey and Louisa, born about 1819 in Kirdford, Sussex. Elizabeth was baptised on 27 June 1852 at St Peter’s church in Woking. At the time of the baptism, the family lived in Sutton and George was working as a labourer. At the time of the 1871 Census, the family lived at St Catherine’s Lodge, Portsmouth Road in Guildford. George was working as a gardener and Louisa was at home. The household further comprised of their children: able seaman Charles, cook Elizabeth and scholar James.
Henry married Elizabeth, on 22nd July 1876 at Stoke near Guildford. At the time of the marriage, the couple lived in Sutton and Henry was working as a moulder.
John had seven siblings: Louisa Hannah born in the 4th quarter of 1878; George Henry born in the 2nd quarter of 1880; Elizabeth Lily born in the 2nd quarter of 1885; Ellen Sarah born in the 1st quarter of 1887; Beatrice Fanny born in the 2nd quarter of 1889; Harold Charlton born in the 1st quarter of 1892 and Ada born in the 4th quarter of 1894, all in Dorking.
At the time of the 1881 Census, the family lived at Dene Street in Dorking. Henry was working as a brewer’s labourer and Elizabeth was at home looking after their children: Louisa and George. The household further comprised of a boarder: general labourer David Sweetman.
At the time of the 1901 Census, John’s family lived at 2 Church Gardens in Dorking. Henry was working as a bricklayer’s labourer and Elizabeth was a laundress. The household further comprised of their children: Louisa, laundress Elizabeth, Beatrice, Harold and Ada and also boarders Annie and Thomas Fisher.
John’s father Henry died in the 2nd quarter of 1901 in Dorking. He was 56 years old.
At the time of the 1911 Census, John’s mother, the widowed Elizabeth Sanford lived at 5 Heath Hill in Dorking. The household further comprised of her children: Elizabeth, bakers assistant Harold and Ada. The accommodation had four rooms. Elizabeth stated that she had given birth to eight children of whom seven were still alive.
John’s mother Elizabeth died in 1925 in East Preston, Sussex.
Ellen Sanford (nee Bassford) Family History.
Ellen Bassford was born on the 28th of May 1896 in Dordon, Warwickshire to miner Thomas, born about 1859 in Polesworth, Warwickshire, and Ann, born about 1860 in Warton, Warwickshire. Ellen was baptised on 20th September 1896 in Polesworth. At the time of the baptism the family lived in Dordon and Thomas was working as a miner.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at Hall End, Freasley & Hall End, Atherstone, Warwickshire. Tom was working as a coal miner hewer and Ann was looking after their six children, including Ellen.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 73 Dordon, near Tamworth. The widowed Ann was at home with her five children, including Ellen. The household further comprised of a boarder: pit banksman labourer Frank H. Heath. The accommodation had five rooms.
| Born | Dorking | |
| Son of | Henry and Edith Sanford of Dorking | |
| Husband of | Ellen Sanford of 82 Long Street, Dordon, Tamworth, Warwickshire | |
| Regiment | Royal Navy H.M Submarine H. 3 | |
| Number | RFR. P.O.B 5244 | |
| Date of Death | 15th July 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Adriatic Sea | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 34 | |
| Memorial | Portsmouth Naval Memorial |
