McCarthy, John Reginald OBE

Birth Name McCarthy, John Reginald OBE
Gender male
Age at Death 82 years, 8 months, 8 days

Notes

Note: 1

John Reginald McCarthy OBE - 17/2/2011 - Mum reckons that they moved to London and ran guest house. Gran visited only once!! Some recollection of John having a drink problem and causing a fire.

4/1/2016 - Vol 15 page 0974

Note: 2

John Reginald McCarthy OBE - was awarded OBE for WW2 service as the master of SS Glaucus. See the reference for the posting in the Gazette.

Note: 3

John Reginald McCarthy OBE -

From Alan Potts, nephew of Dorothy and Reg, via e-mail 20th September 2022:

When I was born we lived in Hotspur Street and Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Reg lived on the corner of Stanwick Street and Hotspur Street so I saw a great deal of them.

Uncle Reg was a bit of a character and a rogue but he was a fantastic uncle to me. He had been a captain but was forced to stop because of drinking. I'm sure this would know be understood as Post Traumatic Shock. During the war he was on convoys and was torpedoed and sunk on more than one occasion. The rule for the other ships was to continue so you were on your own. On one occasion he got other crew members into a lifeboat and took charge during the time they were adrift. He was credited with saving their lives and was awarded the OBE. I'm fairly sure this is documented in a book as I remember an author presenting him with a book.
During his time at sea he apparently did a bit of custom's avoidance using the expression "over the dock wall" and I remember hearing that they had to leave Glasgow in a hurry!
They moved to London sometime in the early 50's and bought a large house in Cambridge Park Road Wanstead. It had a big garden stables and a coach house. This they made into Melrose Guest House. I visited many times at first with my parents and at the age of 8 I was put into the Flying Scotsman and told Uncle Reg would meet me at King's Cross.

Note: 4

John Reginald McCarthy OBE -

From Alan Potts, nephew of Dorothy and Reg, via e-mail 2 Dec 2022:

After a night out Uncle Reg put the chip pan on and fell asleep resulting in a fire. The house and road had a compulsory purchase order so insurance would not pay for repair. Uncle Reg went to live with a friend and Aunty Dorothy was placed in a bedsit in Wanstead. It was a miserable room but eventually she was found an apartment in Romford where she ended her days. I visited her a few times and she seemed happy. Young Reg looked after the family silver and probably anything else of value.

Note: 5

John Reginald McCarthy OBE -

From Alan Potts, nephew of Dorothy and Reg, from an e-mail on 27th December 2022:

You ask when the fire was. I can only say roughly that it was probably around 1975. Cambridge Park Road was due for demolition to put in a new road. You will see it no longer exists. If you want to research it l know it was in the local papers with a headline something like War Hero Saves Wife From Blaze. This really annoyed Dorothy as it was his drunken behaviour which caused the blaze. Their son young Reg had given up the sea several years earlier and was living in Loughton. As far as I know his major role was to remove anything of value for safe keeping! According to Dorothy she saw little of him and he was of no help. I know there had been a family rift years earlier but I remember seeing them together which usually resulted in arguments. She suffered from anaemia and ended up in hospital a few times. I would visit her but she never mentioned Reg coming to see her. When she died she was the last of her generation having outlived my dad by about 10 years
I was very fond of Uncle Reg and he spent a lot of time with me taking me on cruises on the Thames and the Medway and a day trip to Boulogne from Southend pier. We also visited the Cutty Sark where he knew the captain so I can boast of having coffee with the captain of the Cutty Sark! Whatever his faults he was a great uncle to me.

Events

Event Date Place Description Sources
Birth 4 Jul 1896 South Shields, Co. Durham Birth of John Reginald McCarthy (1896) 1a 2a
Census 2 Apr 1911 Barnard Castle School, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham 1911 Census: John R McCarthy (1896) Boarding pupil 3a
Occupation 14 Feb 1917 9 Westoe Parade, South Shields, Co. Durham John Reginald McCarthy (1896): Second mate 4a
Occupation 31 Oct 1918 9 Westoe Parade, South Shields, Co. Durham John Reginal McCarthy (1896): First mate/officer 4b
Recognition Award 10 Aug 1920 South Shields, Co. Durham John Reginald McCarthy (1896): medals awarded for service in First World War 5a
Occupation 18 Apr 1921 9 Westoe Parade, South Shields, Co. Durham John Reginald McCarthy (1896): Master Mariner 4c
Note

From brief Potts family tree created by John and Margot Rawthorne

Confirmed by UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927

Recognition Award 26 Sep 1944 London John Reginal McCarthy (1896): Award "to be Additional Officers of the Civil Divisionon of the Most Excellent Order of the. British Empire 6a 7a
Recognition Award 1946 London John Reginald McCarthy (1896): Award of medals for service in WW2 8a
Death 12 Mar 1979 42 Grosvenor Road, Wanstead, Redbridge, London Death of John Reginald McCarthy (1896) 9a 9b 1a

Families

Family of McCarthy, John Reginald OBE and Potts, Dorothy
Married Wife Potts, Dorothy ( * 21 Nov 1901 + 13 Oct 1985 )
 
Event Date Place Description Sources
Marriage about Apr 1922 Tynemouth, Northumberland Marriage of Dorothy Potts and John Reginald McCarthy (1896)  
Birth 11 Dec 1924 South Shields, Co. Durham Birth of John Reginald McCarthy (1925) 8b 10a
  Narrative

John Reginald McCarthy OBE -

From Alan Potts, nephew of Dorothy and Reg, via e-mail 20th September 2022:

When I was born we lived in Hotspur Street and Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Reg lived on the corner of Stanwick Street and Hotspur Street so I saw a great deal of them.

Uncle Reg was a bit of a character and a rogue but he was a fantastic uncle to me. He had been a captain but was forced to stop because of drinking. I'm sure this would know be understood as Post Traumatic Shock. During the war he was on convoys and was torpedoed and sunk on more than one occasion. The rule for the other ships was to continue so you were on your own. On one occasion he got other crew members into a lifeboat and took charge during the time they were adrift. He was credited with saving their lives and was awarded the OBE. I'm fairly sure this is documented in a book as I remember an author presenting him with a book.
During his time at sea he apparently did a bit of custom's avoidance using the expression "over the dock wall" and I remember hearing that they had to leave Glasgow in a hurry!
They moved to London sometime in the early 50's and bought a large house in Cambridge Park Road Wanstead. It had a big garden stables and a coach house. This they made into Melrose Guest House. I visited many times at first with my parents and at the age of 8 I was put into the Flying Scotsman and told Uncle Reg would meet me at King's Cross.

  Narrative

John Reginald McCarthy OBE -

From Alan Potts, nephew of Dorothy and Reg, via e-mail 2 Dec 2022:

After a night out Uncle Reg put the chip pan on and fell asleep resulting in a fire. The house and road had a compulsory purchase order so insurance would not pay for repair. Uncle Reg went to live with a friend and Aunty Dorothy was placed in a bedsit in Wanstead. It was a miserable room but eventually she was found an apartment in Romford where she ended her days. I visited her a few times and she seemed happy. Young Reg looked after the family silver and probably anything else of value.

  Narrative

John Reginald McCarthy OBE -

From Alan Potts, nephew of Dorothy and Reg, from an e-mail on 27th December 2022:

You ask when the fire was. I can only say roughly that it was probably around 1975. Cambridge Park Road was due for demolition to put in a new road. You will see it no longer exists. If you want to research it l know it was in the local papers with a headline something like War Hero Saves Wife From Blaze. This really annoyed Dorothy as it was his drunken behaviour which caused the blaze. Their son young Reg had given up the sea several years earlier and was living in Loughton. As far as I know his major role was to remove anything of value for safe keeping! According to Dorothy she saw little of him and he was of no help. I know there had been a family rift years earlier but I remember seeing them together which usually resulted in arguments. She suffered from anaemia and ended up in hospital a few times. I would visit her but she never mentioned Reg coming to see her. When she died she was the last of her generation having outlived my dad by about 10 years
I was very fond of Uncle Reg and he spent a lot of time with me taking me on cruises on the Thames and the Medway and a day trip to Boulogne from Southend pier. We also visited the Cutty Sark where he knew the captain so I can boast of having coffee with the captain of the Cutty Sark! Whatever his faults he was a great uncle to me.

Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
McCarthy, John Reginald11 Dec 1924

Pedigree

    1. McCarthy, John Reginald OBE
      1. Potts, Dorothy
        1. McCarthy, John Reginald

Source References

  1. General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office. © Crown copyright.: England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2007
      • Date: Jan 1979
      • Page: Death of John Reginald McCarthy (1896): Waltham Forest, Volume 15, Page 0974; birth 4 July 1896
      • Death of John Reginald McCarthy (1896)
  2. General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office. © Crown copyright): England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
      • Date: Jul 1896
      • Page: Birth of John Reginald McCarthy (1896): South Shields, Volume 10a Page 775
      • Birth of John Reginald McCarthy (1896)
  3. Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG14, 1911.: 1911 England Census
      • Date: 2 Apr 1911
      • Page: 1911 Census: John R McCarthy (1896): Barnard Castle 548, ED16, piece 29803
      • 1911 Census John R McCarthy (1896)
  4. Master's Certificates. Greenwich, London, UK: National Maritime Museum.: UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927
      • Date: 14 Feb 1917
      • Page: John Reginald McCarthy (1896): Number 043 553
      • John R McCarthy (1896) second mate 1917
      • Citation:

        John Reginald McCarthy (1896): awarded after examination on 5 Feb 1917 in South Shields

      • Date: 31 Oct 1918
      • Page: John Reginald McCarthy (1896): Number 043 553
      • John R McCarthy (1896) first mate part 1 1918
      • John R McCarthy (1986) First Mate 1918
      • Citation:

        John Reginald McCarthy (1896): awarded following examination on 28 October 1918 in Sunderland

      • Date: 18 Apr 1921
      • Page: John R McCarthy (1896) Certificate 043553
      • John R McCarthy (1896) Master Mariner 1921
      • John R McCarthy (1896) Master part 1
      • John R McCarthy (1896) travel log 1921
      • Citation:

        John R McCarthy - certificate awarded in Sunderland after examination on 11 April 1921

  5. Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Index of First World War Mercantile Marine Medals and the British War Medal: Web: UK, Campaign Medals Awarded to World War 1 Merchant Seamen, 1914-1925
      • Date: 18 Aug 1920
      • Page: John Reginald McCarthy (1896): Medals awarded for service during WW1: BT 351/1/91109
      • John R McCarthy 1896 medal card
      • Citation:

        John Reginald McCarthy (1896): award of medals for service during WW1:
        http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D8053326

         

  6. The National Archives: The London Gazette
      • Date: 26 Sep 1944
      • Page: John Reginald McCarthy (1896): Citation for award of OBE
      • John R MCCarthy (1896) OBE award
  7. Newcastle Journal
      • Date: 27 Sep 1944
      • Page: John Reginald McCarthy OBE - page 3
      • John R McCarthy OBE award
  8. Ancestry.com: Web: UK, WWII Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945
      • Date: 1945
      • Page: John Reginald McCarthy (1896): Award of medals for service in WW2: BT 395/1/63142
      • John R McCarthy 1896 medal record
      • Citation:

        John Reginald McCarthy (1896): award of medals for service in WW2: Birth Date 4 Jul 1896,
        Service 1939-1945
        Medal Issued/Claimed 1946-2002
        Discharge Number 894583

        http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D4309195

      • Date: 1946
      • Page: John Reginald McCarthy (1924): medals awarded for service in WW2
      • John R McCarthy 1924 medal record
      • Citation:

        John Reginald McCarthy (1924): Medals awarded for service in World War 2:
        Birth Date 11 Dec 1924
        Service 1939-1945
        Medal Issued/Claimed 1946-2002
        Discharge Number R 271314

  9. HM Government; www.gov.uk: Probates and Wills
      • Date: 12 Mar 1979
      • Page: Death of John Reginald McCarthy OBE; High court of justice, District Probate Registry at Ipswich
      • Probate of John R McCarthy OBE
      • Date: 12 Mar 1979
      • Page: Death of John Reginald McCarthy OBE (1896): Last will and testament
      • Will of John R McCarthy OBE
      • Citation:

        Death of John Reginald McCarthy OBE (1896): left everything to one of his nephews and the woman who also lived at 42 Grosvenor Road; failing them, everything went to his two nieces. Nothing to his wife and son.

  10. General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office. © Crown copyright: England & Wales, Birth Index: 1916-2007
      • Date: 11 Dec 1924
      • Page: Birth of John Reginald McCarthy (1924): South Shields Volume 10a, Page 1541
      • John Reginald McCarthy (1924) Birth