Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Arthur Stacey was born on 12th February*, 1879 at Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England to parents James & Eliza Stacey (nee Dyke). (*The date of birth of 12th February, 1879 was listed on Royal Naval & Royal Australian Naval records, however his birth was registered in December quarter, 1879 in the district of Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England. Some family trees on Ancestry have his date of birth as 12th September, 1879)

James Stacey, father of Arthur Stacey, died on 16th October, 1882 at Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England.

Arthur Stacey joined Royal Navy. He stated he was a Labourer & was born at Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England on 12th February, 1879. He was issued a service number of 190289 (Devonport) & joined Caracoa on 2nd August, 1896 as Boy 2nd Class. He was rated as Boy 1st Class on 2nd November, 1896.

Boy 1st Class Arthur Stacey was transferred to Vivid I from 11th January, 1897 & was rated as Ordinary Seaman from 12th February, 1897.  He signed on for a period of 12 years on 12th February, 1897 having attained the age of 18.

Ordinary Seaman Arthur Stacey was transferred to Renown from 8th June, 1897 & rated as Able Seaman from 1st March, 1899.

Able Seaman Arthur Stacey was transferred to Vivid I from 19th November, 1900 then transferred to Cambridge from 18th March, 1901.

The 1901 England Census recorded Arthur Stacey as a 21 year old, single, Able Seaman as a Lodger at Sailors Rest, Fore Street, Devonport, England.

Able Seaman Arthur Stacey was transferred to back to Vivid I from 18th November, 1901 then transferred to Rainbow from 17th December, 1901; Donegal from 5th November, 1903; Hogue from 20th April, 1904; Suffolk from 21st May, 1904; Vivid I from 14 November, 1904; Cambridge from 12th February, 1905; Monmouth from 30th January, 1906; Vivid I from 10th April, 1906; Hogue from 3rd May, 1906; Vivid I from 18th May, 1908; Hogue from 1st August, 1908; Vivid I from 26th August, 1908; Europa from 28th October, 1908; Vivid I from 23rd March, 1909; Andromeda from 1st February, 1910; Monmouth from 13th March, 1910.

The 1911 England Censes listed Arthur Stacey as a 32 year old, single, Able Seaman listed as crew on board H.M.S. Tamar. The Commander was Cresswell J. Eyres. The Tamar was a receiving ship & was docked at Hong King, China on 2nd April, 1911 (the night of the Census).

According to his Service Record sheet Able Seaman Arthur Stacey was still serving in Monmouth until 12th April, 1912. He was transferred to Europa on 13th April, 1912 then Vivid I from 22nd May, 1912 & Donegal from 30th January, 1913.

Mr A. Stacey, aged 34, ex Royal Navy, was listed as a passenger on Orvieto which had departed from London, England & arrived at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 19th May, 1913. Mr Stacey & the 36 other passengers on the passenger sheet list had contracted to land at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Arthur Stacey joined the Royal Australian Navy on 11th February, 1914 for a period of 5 years.  His next of kin was listed as his cousin – Emma Ricketts, 13 Regent Street, Long Eaton, Nottingham, England.

Able Seaman Arthur Stacey was issued a Service number of 3654 & joined Cerberus on 11th February, 1914. He was transferred to H.M.A.S. Melbourne on 2nd April, 1914.

Able Seaman Arthur Stacey died on 18th October, 1916 from Pneumonia after being transferred to Hospital Ship  Plassy in North Sea, Scotland. (Source: Royal Australian Navy – Semaphore Issue 4, 2009)

He was buried in Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery, Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland & has a Private Headstone, however his death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/lyness.html