First World War Centenary – Ordinary Seaman Frank Noble

In memory of Frank Noble

60 x 80, oil on canvas

I would like to dedicate my latest painting “In memory of Frank Noble” to my Uncle Frank Noble who was one of the many sailors who died during the First World War.  He was born on the 2^nd March 1900 at Gosport in Hampshire, England, the son of Frederick Noble and Alice Agnes Knight of 35 Shere Road, Deptford, London, England. By an ironic coincidence he drowned on his 18^th birthday, the 2^nd March 1918.  He was a member of the Mercantile Marine Reserve and was serving on the ketch “Maria” when the ship went down on the Goodwin Sands off Kent. His name is engraved on the Tower Hill Memorial, London which commemorates those from the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets who died during both world wars and have “no grave but the sea”.