Archie Tapp was born on 19th August 1892.  The 1901 census of England and Wales gives his place of birth as Chailey although his surviving naval service record states Lewes.  He appears on the census as the third youngest member of a nine-strong household.  The family was living at South Common, Chailey and was headed by Joseph Tapp (a 48 year old thatcher from Barcombe) and his wife, Fanny Tapp aged 43, also born in Barcombe.  The family’s six children are noted as James Tapp (aged 18, an agricultural labourer), Harry Tapp (aged 16, an agricultural labourer), Fanny Tapp (aged 14), William Tapp (aged 11), Archie Tapp (aged seven), Aubrey Tapp (aged four) and Ashley Tapp (six months).  A 28 year old James Tapp (Chailey born, boarding at Bridge Cottage and working as an agricultural labourer) is also noted on the 1901 census.

Archie Tapp enlisted with the Royal Navy on 6^th March 1911 for twelve years.  It was noted that he was five feet, six and a half inches tall, had dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion.  He had a scar on his left forearm and gave his occupation as labourer.  He was given the number K10617 and commenced his service with the Royal Navy by going straight to HMS Victory II (Portsmouth Naval Barracks) on 6^th March 1911 with the rating Stoker 2^nd Class.  His subsequent service record looks like this:

HMS Renown: 9^th April – 27^th May 1911

HMS Victory II: 28^th May – 9^th August 1911

HMS Irresistible: 10^th August 1911 – 26^th March 1912

HMS Victory II: 27^th March – 5^th April 1912

HMS Monarch: 6^th April 1912 – 6^th April 1914

HMS Victory II: 7^th April – 31^st July 1914

HMS Euryalus: 1^st August 1914 – 15^th January 1917

HMS Dolphin (Submarine training school): 16^th January - 19^th October 1917

HMS Crescent (K22): 20^th October 1917 – 15^th February 1918

HMS Dolphin: 16^th February 1918 – 3^rd July 1919

HMS Thames: 4^th July 1919 – 23^rd December 1919

HMS Dolphin: 24^th December 1919 – 24^th March 1921

HMS Pandora (K9): 25^th March – 30^th June 1921

HMS Dolphin: 1^st July – 27^th July 1921

Archie Tapp was promoted to Stoker 1^st Class on 1^st July 1912 and then to acting leading stoker on 1^st January 1916.  On 1^st July 1916 he was promoted to leading stoker only to revert to stoker 1^st class on 15^th February 1917.  On 1^st December 1917 he was again promoted to leading stoker and finished his naval service with this rating.  On his demob he was paid a bonus of £100.  He had been awarded two good conduct badges during his time with the Royal Navy: the first on 5^th March 1914 and the second on 4^th March 1919.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions him in October 1914 as serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 it states, Tapp, Stoker A, HMS Euryalus and in June 1916 notes that his rating is leading stoker.  Throughout the war, the parish magazine refers to Archie serving aboard HMS Euryalus even though, as can be seen above, he transferred from this ship in January 1917.

HMS Euryalus was one of six Cressy Class cruisers which was launched on 20^th May 1901.  Three of the other Cressy Class cruisers – HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy and HMS Hogue – were all sunk by torpedoes fired from the German U-boat U9 on 22^nd September 1914.  HMS Euryalus however, survived the war and was finally sold for scrapping on 1^st July 1920.

Cressy Class cruisers had a displacement of 12,000 tons and were armed with two 9.2 inch guns (one on the bow and one on the stern), twelve 6 inch quick-firers in a central battery and a number of other quick-firers and machine guns.  Top speed was 21 knots.

Throughout his career, his character was rated as very good with his ability ranging from moderate to (latterly) superior.

Archie’s brothers Ashley, Aubrey and Harry, and his cousins John and Frank Ford also served their King and Country during the First World War.

Sources & Acknowledgements

• Archie Tapp’s partial naval service record exists at the National Archives in London, ref: ADM 188/888
• The 1901 Census of England and Wales
• Chailey Parish Magazine
• www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk