THE Admiralty telegram which arrived at 5, Filey Terrace, York, in the summer of 1915 was terse.

Addressed to Charles Edward Wilson, it stated simply: “Deeply regret to inform you that Fred Wilson, Stoker 1st Class, Official number K1405, reported killed in Submarine E13 on 19th August 1915.”

A letter that arrived shortly afterwards added little more: Stoker Wilson had lost his life when the submarine “grounded on the 19th inst. on the Danish island of Saltholm in the Sound”.

There is no record of how the family reacted to this devastating news. But, thanks to research by family historian Janet Wilson, whose husband Dave is Fred's great nephew, information has emerged about how Stoker Wilson came to lose his life that day.

In an article written for the Family And Local History Handbook, Janet quotes an Admiralty communiqué dated August 25, 1915.

It reported that the submarine, which had been en route to the Baltic, ran aground in Danish territorial waters, following a gyro failure, in the early hours of August 19.

The Danes were neutrals in the war convulsing Europe, and gave the submarine’s captain, Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Layton, 24 hours to refloat his boat or be interned for the rest of the war. But at about 9am, while three Danish torpedo boats were anchored near to the sub, two German torpedo destroyers appeared.

One “fired a torpedo at her (the E13) from a distance of about 300 yards, which exploded on hitting the bottom close to her,” the communiqué reads.

“At the same time the German destroyer fired with her guns and Lieut Commander Layton, seeing that his submarine was on fire... gave orders for the crew to abandon her. While the men were in the water they were fired on by machine guns and with shrapnel.”

One of the Danish ships steamed in between the submarine and the Germans, forcing them to cease fire. But 15 of the submarine’s complement of 30 men were killed – among them 29-year-old Stoker Wilson.

The survivors were interned in Denmark for the rest of the war, but the Danes returned the remains of those who had been killed to England.

Janet has unearthed newspaper accounts of the time which describe the honour paid to the men as their coffins arrived at Hull docks.

“A special gangway covered with black cloth and white centrepiece had been erected,” Janet writes.

“Fifteen exquisite wreaths of arum lilies sent by Queen Alexandra were placed in rows.”

Stoker Wilson’s coffin was brought by train to York Station. According to contemporary accounts, a large crowd began to assemble along Queen Street, on the city walls, and all along the route as Stoker Wilson’s coffin was carried to York Cemetery.

“The deepest sympathy was shown by the crowds which lined the route,” Janet notes. “Heads were uncovered, many soldiers saluted and at the cemetery the band played Chopin’s funeral march.”

Janet first began researching her husband’s great uncle in 1995. The young man she learned about had been born in Norton in October 1885, the fifth son of Charles and Annie Wilson.

The family later moved to York where, before he joined the Navy in 1908, Fred worked in the central signal box at York Station.

According to a tribute in the Yorkshire Herald of August 23, 1915, the young Fred was also a corporal in the York Volunteers, and the holder of the signaller’s certificate.

“Signalling was a particular hobby," the newspaper reported. “He spent many evenings on the top of the Minster signalling to Strensall Camp and other places.”

During the course of her researches, Janet managed to find one family member – Fred’s niece, Winnie Mothersdale – who actually remembered going to her uncle’s funeral when she was a small child.

Winnie was able to tell her where Fred's grave was.

“Dave and I went to look for the family grave in York Cemetery,” Janet writes. “Winnie said his grave was on the right and 20 steps past the angel.”

And there, indeed, it was: the last resting place of a York hero.