Hardress De Warrenne Waller (1898 - 1920)

Born 21 Mar 1898 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland

Ancestors

Died 21 Feb 1920 at age 21 in At Sea

Biography

Hardress Waller was born in Ireland.

Hardress de Warrenne Waller was born on 21 March 1898 in Nenagh, Tipperary^[1]. He was the elder son of William Arthur De Warrenne Waller and Anna Selina Waller.

In the 1901 Ireland Census, Hardress Waller (aged 3) was recorded living with his mother Anna S Waller (30) and his two siblings Mary Waller (7 and a Scholar) and Eric Waller (9 mths) at Wellington, Nenagh Rural, Tipperary. Also in the household were four servants^[2].

His father William died suddenly on 8 March 1904 at the age of 38. His mother remarried.

Five years after losing his father, he also lost his mother Anna when she died on 4 February 1911 after suffering from Pneumonia.

In the 1911 Ireland Census, Hardress Waller (aged 13) was recorded as a Pupil in Drumindoney (Mourne Park, Down)^[3].

He attained the rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, having enlisted on 14 March 1918. Military Service Number: 7888

Tragically he died at sea on 21 February 1920 at the age of 21 after attempting to fly from England to Ireland. The following paragraph was printed on page 6 of the Irish Independent dated 3 March 1920:

PITHY PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Lieut. Hardress de Warrenne Waller, eldest son of the late Major Waller, Wellington, Nenagh, was in one of the aeroplanes that attempted to fly from England to Ireland a week ago. Capt. Waller, Roscrea, uncle of Lieut. Waller, has received a communication from the Air Ministry that they have given up hope as to the safety of the machines. Lieut. Waller served in the R.A.F. for 2½ years, and on a former occasion successfully flew to Ireland.^[4]

He is memorialised at the Hollybrook War Memorial, Southampton, Southampton Unitary Authority, Hampshire, England^[5].

On 13 November 1920, the following account of his death was printed on page 1 of the General Advertiser for Dublin, and All Ireland:

Our Legal Record.

Tragedy of Air and Sea Unfolded

In flying to Ireland from Shotwick, near Chester, accompanied by two other aeroplanes, Hardress de W. Waller and his companions apparently lost their way. The three machines were seen between Denbeigh and Rhyl. It was believed that they lost their way in the air, and went along the coast of Wales southwards. About 3.45 that afternoon the master of the ss. Norfolk Range saw three aeroplanes in the air in the neighbourhood of the Scilly Isles. He saw one of them fall into the sea, and he made an unsuccessful attempt at rescue. He threw a lifebuoy to the fallen pilot, but after having caught it the man let go and was drowned. That person was presumed to be Mr. Waller. The Air Council had given a certificate that he was missing. He had never been seen or heard of since. The compasses in Mr. Waller's aeroplane were inaccurate.

Mr. Justice Kenny-- That is a nice state of things. They were sent out with probably inaccurate compasses.

Mr. Poole-- I don't think they admit that the compasses were inaccurate when they were sent out, but that probably they were affected by the weather. Mr. Waller was a bachelor. Only his sister, Miss Mary D. Waller, Quane, Roscrea, and two minor brothers survive. His personal estate was about £900. He had not made a will.

Mr. Poole (instructed by Messrs. Bowles and French), applied for a grant of administration for Miss Waller to the estate of her brother, whose death was presumed. Mr. Justice Kenny granted the order sought.^[6]

Administration of his estate was granted at Dublin to his unmarried sister Mary Dorothea Waller^[7]. Effects: £371 12s. 9d. Sealed London 28 December 1920.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "Ireland Civil Registration Indexes, 1845-1958", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FBJW-BMS : 6 November 2023), Hardress De Warrenne Waller, 1898.
2. ↑ 1901 Ireland Census: https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tipperary/Nenagh_Rural/Wellington/1697290/
3. ↑ Ireland Census, 1911: Database. FamilySearch. https://FamilySearch.org : 27 December 2018. National Archives of Ireland, Dublin. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QYXP-17PZ
4. ↑ Irish Independent dated 3 March 1920 page 6 (requires subscription to view)
5. ↑ Find a Grave: Database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13244867/hardress_de-waller: accessed April 17, 2024), memorial page for Pilot Officer Hardress De Waller (unknown–21 Feb 1920), Find A Grave: Memorial #13244867, citing Hollybrook War Memorial, Southampton, Southampton Unitary Authority, Hampshire, England; Maintained by IWPP Custodial Account (contributor 48586138).
6. ↑ General Advertiser for Dublin, and All Ireland dated 13 November 1920, page 1 (requires subscription to view)
7. ↑ Probate: "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPLZ-YM99 : Sun Mar 10 22:51:37 UTC 2024), Entry for Hardress De Warrenne Waller and Mary Dorothea Waller, 28 December 1920.

See also:

• "Ireland Calendar of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1920." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 27 March 2020. Principal Probate Registry, Dublin. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K62J-PY9