Able Seaman Arthur Joseph Mayes was born 07/03/1883 in Walton, the son of Thomas Perkins Mayes and his wife Elizabeth nee Mallett. Arthur was the fifth of eight children. He married Ada Elizabeth Rayson in 1911 and they were living at 7 Foresters Cottages, Lower Street (Grange Road), Walton at the time of his death.

 

Arthur joined the Royal Navy as a boy cadet in 1893 and served until he bought himself out in 1905 joining the Fleet Reserve. In 1911 he was working as a gardener before rejoining the Royal Navy 02/08/1914 and being posted to the HMS Queen Mary 25/08/1914. 

 

The Queen Mary first saw action at the Battle of Heligoland Bight 28/08/1914, the first naval battle of the First World War. She later took part in the largest fleet action of the war, the Battle of Jutland, which was to be her demise. Having been hit twice by the SMS Derfflinger in the early part of the battle her magazines exploded a short while later & she sank with a loss of 1266 officers & ratings on 31/05/1916. 

 

Arthur is commemorated on the Chatham Memorial. His cousin Harry Stanley Mayes below also died in this conflict.