Isaac Radford
Memorial: Staple Hill - Page Park
Regiment: Royal Navy
Medals: 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Petty Officer Stoker K/932 (Dev.)
Parents: Isaac and Mary Ann Radford (nee Campbell)
Home address: 27 Broad Street, Staple Hill, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Shoemaker
Date of birth: 28/06/1890
Place of birth: Twinnell Plcae, Easton, Bristol
Date of death: 07/06/1917
Buried/Commemorated at: Plymouth Naval Memorial (Ref. 22.), Plymouth, Devon
Age: 27
Further information:
Isaac Radford was the eldest of ten children born to parents Isaac and Mary Radford and was baptised on 5th September 1894 at St. Philip and St. Jacob, Bristol
He joined the Royal Navy for a period of 12 years on 20th July 1908. He was 5' 4 3/4” tall with brown hair and grey eyes with a fresh complexion; his service number was K/932. He first attended Vivid II at Devonport on 20th July 1908 until 8th February 1909; this was the Stokers and Engine Room Artificers School. He first served on HMS Defence from 9th February 1909 until 3rd February 1913. Returning to Vivid II on four occasions Isaac went on to serve on four more vessels until being posted to HMS Pargust, a Special Service Vessel (also known as Q-ships) used by the Royal Navy in anti-submarine warfare. She was successful on one occasion, destroying the U-boat UC-29. Isaac Radford was killed on 7th June 1917 when Pargust was on patrol west of Valentia Island when she encountered UC-29, which had already sunk three ships in the area. As Pargus approached the U-boat’s position UC 29 fired a torpedo which hit Pargust in the engine room where Isaac would have been. Campbell made no attempt to avoid this, as he was convinced the only way to allay the suspicions of a U-boat was to allow his ship to be torpedoed, relying on her buoyant cargo to keep her afloat, and obliging the U-boat to surface to finish her off with gun-fire at which point it would be vulnerable to his guns. He had already employed this strategy with Farnborough, and would do so again, in one of the epic Q-ship actions, with Dunraven
Pargust was hit at 8:00 a.m.; shortly after Campbell ordered his panic party out, a group masquerading as the merchant crew who abandoned ship in simulated disorder, to further convince the U-boat that it was safe to approach. The U-boat closed in at periscope depth, then circled Pargus and her boats in order to inspect her for any signs of concealed weapons. The U-boat then broke surface, intending to interrogate the boat crew, but the boat pulled away, around the steamer's stern, in order to bring the U–boat closer. This was successful, and at 8.36am, when UC-29 was just 50 yards away, Campbell opened fire. Pargust's gunners scored numerous hits on the U-boat, damaging the coming tower particularly, and the crew started to abandon ship, raising their hands in surrender. Campbell ordered cease-fire, at which UC-29 started to move away on the surface, into the surrounding mist. At this, and to prevent the U-boat escaping (Pargust was immobilised, and unable to pursue) Campbell commenced firing again, which continued until 8.40 am when UC-29 blew up and sank. Just two of her crew were saved. Pargust remained afloat, and was joined by the sloops and Zinnia, and the American destroyer USS Cushing. Pargust's crew were transferred to Zinnia, and she was taken under tow; she was brought safely to Queenstown the following day. Isaac Radford's body was not recovered for burial
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Find A Grave Index, Select Bristol Parish Registers, England Select Births and Christenings, England and Wales Christening Records, Register of Soldiers' Effects, Royal Navy Register of Seamen's Service, Soldiers Died In The Great War, UK Censuses, Free BMD, David Blackmore – Mangotsfield Residents Association