J/6892 Able Seaman Charles Evan Harbach:

At the outbreak of war he was serving on H.M.S. Monmouth, which sank after an action with a German cruiser off the Chilean Coast during the Battle of Coronel on Sunday, 1 November 1914. He died, aged 21 years, and he is commemorated on Panel 1 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

 

When H.M.S. Monmouth was sunk her entire crew was lost and among their number was Midshipman George Watson Muir, aged 15 years. He is commemorated on Panel 1 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

 

Charles Evan Harbach is the son of John Harbach and Ellen Williams and he was born at Withington, Manchester, on the 22 November 1892 and baptised at St Paul’s Church, Withington, on the 8 January 1893. Later the family moved to Manchester Road, Denton. At Denton he was a member of Hope Chapel Boys Brigade and he was also connected with St Anne’s Church, Haughton.

Charles Harbach was a regular in the Royal Navy and for some time he served on H.M.S. Highflyer. In 1911 he was serving on the cruiser H.M.S. Gibraltar that formed part of the Atlantic Fleet. The Commanding Officer was Captain Ernest F. A. Gaunt C.M.G. who was later promoted to Rear Admiral.

Peter Whitehead