Edward Paul Shrubsall
b 1900 Sittingbourne, Kent, England
d 9 Jan 1918 at sea
buried Rathmullan St Columb, Church of Ireland, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland
Victory Medal British War Medal
Edward Paul Shrubsall was a stoker 2nd class in the Royal Navy, Service number K/44341(Ch)
The son of Paul & Mary Ann Shrubsole.
He was a stoker aboard the HMS Racoon when she sank on 9th January 1918.
HMS Racoon was a Beagle class, 3 funnelled coal burning destroyer of 950 tons, built and launched in 1910. During the early hours of 9th January 1918 she was en route from Liverpool to Lough Swilly to take up anti-submarine and convoy duties in the Northern Approaches. In heavy sea conditions and whilst experiencing snow blizzards she struck rocks at the Garvan Isles and sank with the loss of all hands. (Capt & 95 men) HMS Racoon now lies at a depth of 17m and can only be dived during slack water. The Admiralty who initially covered up the tragic loss of life released the news that the ship had struck a mine, but the facts were made known by a subsequent enquiry revealing it was a navigational error. It emerged that Racoon, which was sailing through snow showers, was taken between the Garvan Isles; visibility failed and she ran straight into one of the islands. The general practice was not to go between the islands when visibility was low but to go around.
Crew members washed ashore all along the coast from Donegal to Scotland and many were never recovered. In Donegal crew members were buried at Rathmullan (St Columb) Church of Ireland Churchyard, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.
