| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information
Charles was born in Hull the 26 Mar 1894 and baptised at St Matthew’s Church the 18 May 1894, the son of Emil Agerskow and Lilian (nee Stow). Lilian was originally from Wapping, London whilst Emil was from Sleswig, Denmark. Emil worked as a fisherman and later was a trawler skipper. Charles was brought up on South Boulevard, Hull. On 24 Nov 1908 in Cardiff he was indentured as an apprentice in the Merchant Navy. He qualified as a second mate on a foreign-going ship on 13 Mar 1914 and as a first mate on 3 Apr 1914.
Charles served in the Merchant Navy on transatlantic voyages: for example he arrived on the SS Chicago at Boston, USA, on 20 Feb 1918 on a voyage from Hull. Such voyages had been extremely hazardous in 1915 and particularly in 1917 due to the threat of German U-Boats. Heavy shipping losses had forced the British Government to introduce a convoy system which was a key factor in overcoming the U-Boat threat. Charles was awarded the British War Medal and the Merchant Marine Medal.
Charles married Gladys Orpha Wood at St Matthew’s church, Hull on 20 Dec 1920, they had a daughter Joyce born 1921. Charles, it seems, became a “fish master” and the family moved to Cleethorpes where in 1939 they were living on Grimsby Road. In the later 1930s his family changed their name to Fieldwood. Charles died on 30 Sep 1954 and is buried at Waltham Cemetery, Cleethorpes with the description that he was a “master mariner” on his gravestone. Gladys died in 1951.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |