Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Pepper, a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1856 in Elston, Nottinghamshire and his wife Eliza Catherine Pepper (nee Hide, married in the 4th quarter of 1890 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born in the 3rd quarter of 1860 in Kingsland, Middlesex. Edward’s father died aged 38, in the 2nd quarter of 1894 in the Market Bosworth, Leicestershire district. In the 4th quarter of 1898, Edward’s mother, married Joseph Halls in the Market Bosworth district. Edward Wilfrid was born on the 2nd November 1894 in Ibstock, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 28th November 1894 in the Parish Church, Ibstock, in March 1901 he was residing in the family home at Melbourne Road, Ibstock, together with his step father, Joseph Halls, a coal miner, born 1863 in Tugby, Leicestershire, his mother and half blood siblings, William Hide, a coal mine horse driver, born 4th March 1885 in Hackney, Middlesex, and Joseph Samuel Halls, born 9th September 1900 in Ibstock and baptised on the 14th October 1900 in the Parish Church, Ibstock, and his full blood siblings, Harry, born 1891 and baptised on the 13th December 1891 in the Parish Church, Ibstock and Elizabeth, born 1892 and baptised on the 27th November 1892 in the Parish Church, Ibstock, the latter two siblings were both born in Ibstock. In April 1911 Edward was employed as a coal mine pony driver and was residing in the family home at Strawberry Villa, 256, Melbourne Road, Ibstock, together with his step father, a coal mine charge man, his mother and half blood siblings, William Hide, a coal miner, Joseph Halls and Annie Elizabeth Halls, born 1902 in Ibstock and baptised on the 13th July 1892 in the Parish Church, Ibstock, and his full blood siblings, Harry, a coal mine pony driver and Elizabeth. Edward appears to have always been known as Wilfred. His mother also used the names Kate, Katherine and Elizabeth. His family home was later given as Broughton Villa, 58, White Hill, Ellistown, Leicestershire.
Wilfred enlisted into the Royal Marines on the 24th April 1913 in Nottingham, and was allocated the service number 13437. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8½ inches in height, and his complexion was described as fresh, he had light brown hair and blue eyes. He gave his date and place of birth as the 2nd November 1894 in Ibstock, Coalville, Leicestershire, he gave his trade or calling as colliery pony driver and his religion as Church of England. He gave his mother Catherine Hall of Broughton Villa, 58, White Hill, Ellistown, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His record of service began when he joined the Royal Marine Artillery as a Private on the 24/4/13 – 5/2/14, when he was promoted Gunner 2nd Class. Royal Marine Artillery, 6/2/14 – 13/7/14, when he embarked. HMS Ocean, 14/7/14 – 16/8/14. HMS Goliath, 17/8/14 – 13/5/15, when he lost his life in an action with a Turkish destroyer in the Dardanelles.
The background relating to the circumstances in which Wilfred lost his life are as follows; On 25th March 1915, HMS Goliath was ordered to the Çanakkale Strait (Dardanelles) to participate in the campaign there. She transferred her flag to second class cruiser HMS Hyacinth and departed for the Çanakkale Strait (Dardanelles) on 1 April. Commanded by Captain Thomas Lawrie Shelford, HMS Goliath was part of the Allied fleet supporting the landing at X and Y Beaches during the landing as Cape Mehmetcik (Cape Helles) on 25th April, sustaining some damage from the gunfire of Ottoman Turkish forts and shore batteries, and supported Allied troops ashore during the First Battle of Alcitepe that day. She covered the evacuation on 26th April. She was damaged by Turkish guns again on 2nd May. Since the Turkish Army had no long range cannons, battleships with large calibre armament like HMS Goliath were able to remain out of range and had caused excessive casualties on the Turkish side. Though it seemed impossible, the Turkish General Staff decided to sink HMS Goliath. On the night of 12th – 13th May, HMS Goliath was anchored in Morto Bay off Cape Mehmetçik (Cape Helles), along with HMS Cornwallis and a screen of five destroyers, in foggy conditions. Around 1.00 am on 13th May, the Turkish torpedo boat destroyer Muavenet-i-Milliye eluded the destroyers HMS Beagle and HMS Bulldog and three others and closed on the battleships. Muâvenet-i Millîye fired two torpedoes which struck HMS Goliath almost simultaneously abreast her fore turret and abeam the fore funnel, causing a massive explosion. HMS Goliath began to capsize almost immediately, and was lying on her beam ends when a third torpedo struck near her after turret. She then rolled over completely and began to sink by the bows, taking 570 of the 700-strong crew to the bottom, including her commanding officer, Captain Thomas Lawrie Shelford. Although sighted and fired on after the first torpedo hit, Muâvenet-i Millîye escaped unscathed. HMS Goliath was the fourth Allied pre-dreadnought battleship to be sunk in the Dardanelles, after her loss the flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth was sent back to England. For sinking HMS Goliath, Turkish Captain of Muâvenet-i Millîye Ahmet Saffet Bey was promoted to rank of Commander (Major) and awarded the Gold Medal and the German consultant, Kapitänleutnant Rudolph Firle was also awarded the Gold Medal by the Ottoman Sultan (Rudolph Firle was also awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class by the German General Staff because he was a German national).
On Friday June 11th 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. - “Drowned Seaman’s Letter.” – Seaman Wilfred Pepper, whose mother and father-in-law live in Whitehill, Ellistown, writing a day or two before he was drowned on H.M.S. Goliath acknowledged the receipt of a cigarette case and cigarettes sent by Mr. Harry Brown, secretary of the Ellistown Association, formed for befriending Ellistown men serving with the Forces. Pepper, who wrote on the 10th May, was very grateful for the kindness of Ellistown people, but said he could send no information of mention, as the Censor would destroy the letter.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday June 4th, 1915

Ellistown Sailor lost - Went down in the 'Goliath'

Our photo is that of a gallant Ellistown sailor, Wilfred Pepper, who was one of the crew of the “Goliath,” unfortunately sunk on May 13th in the Dardanelles. His home was at Whitehill, Ellistown

Submitted by A. Murby 2/9/2017