Vance, Patrick Hugo Gerald Reeves Scott St. Claire Irving (Pat)

Sub-Lieutenant

HMS Shark, Royal Navy

Killed in action on Wednesday 31 May 1916 (aged 19)

No known grave

Commemorated:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, England (Panel 11)

Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club

Glencraig Parish Church of Ireland Church (Holy Trinity)

Helen’s Bay Parish Church of Ireland Church (St John the Baptist)

BIOGRAPHY

Patrick Hugo Gerald Reeves Scott St. Claire Irving Vance, known as Pat, was born on 4 December 1896 in the Belfast Bank House, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh and he was a son of James Gerald Galbraith Irving Vance who were married on 7 February 1896 in St John’s Church of Ireland Church, Newcastle, Co Down.  James Gerald Galbraith Irving Vance was a son of Hugh Vance, a gentleman farmer.  Clare (Clara) Vance formerly Denny nee Richardson was a daughter of Charles Richardson, a gentleman, of Armitage House, Newcastle.  Clara was the widow of Anthony Denny whom she had married on 22 November 1882.

James and Clara Vance (formerly Denny, nee Richardson) had two children:

Patrick Hugo Gerald Reeves Scott St Claire Irving (born 4 December 1896 in the Belfast Bank House, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh)

Clare Pauline Helen Geraldine Irving (born 6 April 1899 in Carrickreagh, Helen’s Bay; baptised in Bangor Parish Church of Ireland Church)

Uncorroborated information from an external source that Pat Vance attended Bangor Grammar School has been accepted by the School.

After leaving school Pat Vance joined the Royal Navy and was serving aboard the destroyer HMS Shark when he was killed in action on 31 May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland.

During a memorial service in Helen’s Bay Parish Church in June 1916, the Rev G.W. Capsey paid tribute to Pat Vance’s courage, and to his righteousness.

[Commander Loftus Jones, Captain of HMS Shark, went down with his ship and was gazetted with a posthumous Victoria Cross.] 

Sub-Lieutenant Patrick Hugo Gerald Reeves Scott St. Claire Irving Vance is commemorated in the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club at Cultra; in Glencraig Parish Church of Ireland Church (Holy Trinity) and in Helen’s Bay Parish Church of Ireland Church (St John the Baptist).