CONTINUING with Powerstock project into the soldiers and sailors who died in the First World War this week it's Ian Berry's turn to tell us about the death of Albert Tiltman.

Volunteers are undertaking research into the parish's fallen to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War 1.

There are 11 soldiers and sailors from the village on its war memorial.

The intention is to produce a book, with chapters on each individual and the causes of the war, in time for Remembrance Sunday.

The aim is to complete the research work by the end of April and the book will be for sale nearer the end of the year. The project is being overseen by Richard Connaughton.

Mr Berry said he got most of his information from Mr Tiltman's granddaughter Diana Wells from Hampshire - who thanks to a series of serendipitous coincidences was in Bridport visiting a friend before Christmas and read the News' story of the Powerstock project.

Albert Tiltman was born in Bridport on October 26, 1878. He had six brothers and four sisters.

Dorset Echo:

His family lived in East Street, his father John William worked in the brewery. He had six brothers and the descendant of one of those was Cyril Tiltman, who was major or Bridport.

Albert joined the navy on January 17, 1894 at the age of 15 as a boy, second class.

He worked his way up through the navy.

His first action he saw was in the Persian Gulf when he was serving on board a sloop - the HMS Espiegle.

When he serving on the Espiegle he was awarded the General Service Medal - awarded in the Persian Gulf at the time for operations against pirates, gunrunners, and slavers.

He then came back to England some time about the end of 1912.

He married on February 3, 1913 he was married in Powerstock parish church. He was 34 and his wife Susanna Elizabeth Emma Gale was 36. Her family lived in Nettlecombe.

They had a son William who was born on March 21, 1914.

Albert was based ashore at a training establishment for engineering apprentices until April 1914.

He joined the armoured cruiser the Black Prince.

At the beginning of the war she was in the Mediterranean where she was part of a force trying to intercept the German battleship Goeben and stop it getting to Istanbul where it was destined to be a gift for the Turks.

That mission failed.

The Black Prince was then sent to the Red Sea to intercept German ships. On August 15, 1914 she stopped the German ship the Sudmark which was making its way from Colombo to Antwerp.

She was escorted to Suez where a prize crew was put on board and she was taken to Alexandra.

Incidentally the Sudmark was then the subject of some obscure legal action before the judicial committee of the Privy Council based on the 1888 convention for all users of the canal which said ships seized could only be held for 24 hours - the Sudmark was held for 31 hours.

Funnily enough it doesn't seem to have resulted in the release of the prize.

Albert's wife Susanna finally received her share of the prize money in 1923. It amounted to £54.

Black Prince came back to the UK and was attached to the Grand Fleet under Admiral John Jellicoe.

On May 31, 1916, the Grand Fleet and the High Sea Fleet fought the action which has become known as the Battle of Jutland.

It might have been a strategic success but there were heavy losses - among them were officers and men of the Black Prince, among them Albert Tiltman.

The Black Prince followed the flagship Defence into action. Defence was blown up but for some unexplained reason Black Prince was left behind after the fleet turned south after deployment.

In the confusion the Prince's captain saw a line of battleships ahead and set course for them.

It was a fatal mistake. The battleships were German and at half mile range he realised and tried to turn the ship away.

The German battleship Thuringen trained half a dozen searchlights on the Black Prince and let lose a tornado of shells.

The Black Prince was a helpless wreck before she could fire a shot.

She drifted down the German line and ship after ship fired on her.

She was finally blown up with the loss of all hands.

There must have been a mail packet attached to the Grand Fleet and Albert wrote a letter to his wife on the eve of the battle - the transcript of which is reproduced here.

Albert's wife lived until 1959. Their son William was a carpenter and the organist at Loders Church for many years.

 Albert Tiltman wrote this letter to his wife on the day before he died.

May 30th 1916 H.M.S. Black Prince c/o G.P.O.

London My Darling Wife and Babe, I now take the greatest of pleasure in writing a few lines to you both in answer to your most kind and ever-loving letter which I was so pleased to receive yesterday, to know that both you, my own, and darling babe were quite alright and enjoying the best of health again, and that Mother and Bess are alright. Well, my darling girl I am very pleased to be able to tell you that I am enjoying the best of health at present.

We are going on quite alright, not very busy now, just keeping fit and ready for anything that may happen, and waiting for the news that we are coming down for a few days. I don't think it will be much longer before we shall hear something definite and I am so longing to come down and see you and bonny babe once again. I should very much liked to have been with you when you went to the top of the hill. I'll bet it was lovely and I am sure you all enjoyed yourselves. No wonder babe was tired. He has not been up there before, has he?

I should like to have seen him between you and Bess, going up like a little man, and to have heard his baby-talk. But it won't be much longer before I will be there with you. I see you and Mother have been getting in coal. I should liked to have seen you after you had finished! (don't laugh). I am pleased that you are still having some nice weather and I hope it will be nice when I come down, a storm now and then will do no end of good and bring the gardens on.

We are having some nice weather, a little chilly during the night, but lovely and sunny during the day. We have started to leave off our winter clothing. Well, dearest, I shall not be sending on any note the first of this month as I might want some for travelling and you never know what you might require. I don't suppose I shall want it but I like to know I have it on me in case I do. I have two or three little things to bring down this time, but it won't be very heavy. I won't forget babe's sweets.

Well now my own darling girl, I don't think I have any more to say this time, so give my love to Bess and Mother, give babe a few kisses for me and look well after yourself and bonny babe. Goodnight darling, God Bless you all and keep you safe, from your loving Albert.