Alphabetically: Previous | Next

19/03/1885 - 23/01/1917

Place of birth: Bromley, Kent
Last known address in Bromley: 18 Nichol Lane

Military information

Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Battalion/Ship: HMS Simoom
Rank: Stoker First Class
Number: SS/107379

Family information

Parents: Amos & Ellen Ann Diston (nee Rushton) (now Ince)
Parents' occupation: General labourer
Siblings: Half siblings Alec Robert, Arthur, William (d), James, Alfred, Ellen (d), Agnes, Minnie, May

Census information

1891
Address: 10 Henry Street
1901
Address: 10 Henry Street
Occupation: General labourer
1911
Address: 18 Nichol Lane
Occupation: Stoker

Extra details

Amos was the only child of Amos and Ellen Diston. His father died within a few months of his birth and Ellen married Artur Ince in 1887, they had a further nine children. Amos was known to many as "Diddy" Ince. Following Ellen's death in 1901 Arthur and his children emigrated to Canada.

Amos attended St Mary's School, Plaistow before joining the Navy on 17th July 1908. Amos was 5ft 8ins tall, had dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He had signed up for 5 years so in 1913 was transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve. At the outbreak of war he returned to the Navy. He died on 23rd January 1917 when his ship, HMS Simoom, was torpedoed by the German destroyer S50, causing the ship's magazine to explode resulting in 47 deaths.

Amos left instructions that Annie Wooldridge of 5 Swan Lane, Rotherhithe was to be informed in the event of his death - was she his sweetheart?