Henry Hills

 ROCHE CASTLE, hired trawler, Adty No 1353. Built 1910, at Smith’s Dock Co., Ltd, South Bank.  Roche Castle was 241grt, Swansea-reg SA.105. Armament: 1-12pdr. During the First World War, Roche Castle saw action as a minesweeper from 3.15-1919.

Roche Castle was first listed in the Lloyd's Register in 1912, and her owners were listed as Castle Steam Trawlers, Swansea. 

Roche Castle
Lloyd's Register

Henry Hills was the skipper of Roche Castle during 1915.  8th of May 1915, Henry died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Pembroke Dock.

Before the hospital, for many years, the old frigate hulk Nankin had been moored off the Yard as a Dockyard hospital. As part of the modernisation, it was replaced by a naval hospital ashore, which was opened in 1902.  During the Second World War, the hospital was expanded by the RAF.  In 1961, the hospital was transferred to the NHS, and was called South Pembrokeshire District Hospital, which is still in use today.

Henry was born in 1869, Barstead, Kent, was the son of Henry Hills and Elizabeth Medhurst.

The 1871 Census records Henry living at No.2 Magdala Cottage, Brasted.

1871 Census

Henry, 23, employed as an Ag Lab.  Elizabeth is 20 years old.

Their only child currently is Henry, who is 11 months old.

Also present at the property are David Hills, 66, and Alfred Hills, 20, father and brother of Henry.  They are both Ag Labs.

The 1881 Census records that the family is still living at 2 Magdala Cottage and has grown over the decade.

1881 Census

Henry, 34, is still an Ag Lab, and Elizabeth is 31 years old.  Their children are

Henry, 11; Mary, 9; George, 7; Sarah, 4, who all attend school, also Thomas, 3, and 1-year old Percy.

The family has moved by the time of the 1891 Census, they are residing at 54 Barstead Chalk Road.

1891 Census

Henry, 44, is employed as a General Labourer and Elizabeth, 44 years old.  Their children who are present are

Henry, 20, who is employed as Carman; George, 16, who is a Servant; Sarah, 13; Thomas, 12; Percy, 10; William, 8; Alfred, 6, and 4-year-old Annie.

Also present is Elizabeth’s mother, Mary Medhurst, 75.

1894 Henry has married Florence Alice Elms.

The 1901 Census records that Henry, 32, and Florence, 31, as boarders living at 32 Point Street, Milford Haven.

1901 Census

Henry’s occupation is recorded as Mate Steam Ship.  They have two children, Florence, 4, and 2-month-old Henry.

The family moved to Swansea at the time of the 1911 Census, and are living at 36 Danygraig Rd St Thomas

1911 Census

Henry, 42, is employed as a Fisherman Master Trawler, and Florence Alice is also 42 years old.  Their children are

Florence Isabel, 14; Henry, 10; Edith Doris, 7, and Walter Rowland, 5, who all attend school, and 3-year-old Clara.

Henry Hills
Danygraig Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Henry was buried at Danygraig Cemetery