Vivash, Bernard Christopher (Christopher)
Chief Engine Room Artificer
No. P/272124, HMS Greenwich, Royal Navy
Died of disease in service on Saturday 1 April 1944 (aged 54)
Buried:
Glasgow (Cardonald) Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland (Section E Joint grave 25)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Donaghadee and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
Bernard Christopher Vivash was born around 1890 in Brooklyn, New York, USA, and he was a son of Robert Duncan Vivash, who was born on 7 June 1855 in Edinburgh, and Emily Vivash (nee Stewart) of Fairy Knowe, Cannyreagh, Donaghadee.
They were married on 27 June 1885 in Belfast Registrar’s Office, and they had three children:
Stewart (born 20 October 1885 at 22 Lincoln Avenue, Belfast)
Alice Demaus (born 30 September 1887 at 49 Cooke Street, Belfast; married Robert Norman Cecil Scott in St George’s Parish Church of Ireland Church, Belfast 31 July 1915)
Bernard Christopher (born around 1890 in Brooklyn, New York)
Robert Duncan Vivash was a son of William Vivash who, in partnership with his son-in-law, Charles Mavius, ran the photographic business ‘Mavius and Vivash’ in Ann Street, Belfast.
Robert Duncan Vivash was a seaman and he drowned in Barry Dock, Wales on 8 May 1914.
In 1901 Stewart Vivash (then an apprentice druggist, aged 15) and Bernard Christopher Vivash (then a schoolboy, aged 11) were lodging with Joseph and Sophia Mary Carothers at 138 Fitzroy Avenue, Belfast.
In 1911 Bernard Christopher Vivash was an Engine Room Artificer (ERA) 5th Class in the Royal Navy. He served with the Royal Navy during the First World War and was, for a time afterwards, living in Australia (his war medals were sent to him there). In 1922 he arrived in London from Brisbane aboard the Ormonde. The following year, on 10 May 1923, Stewart Vivash (aged 38) arrived in Quebec, Canada after sailing from Belfast aboard the Regina.
During the Second World War Bernard Christopher Vivash served aboard the destroyer depot ship HMS Greenwich. Ordered by the Greek Navy from Swan Hunter who sub-contracted the hull to W. Dobson and Company, Wallsend-on-Tyne, this ship was launched in 1915 and taken over on the stocks by the Admiralty. During the Second World War she was stationed at Scapa Flow from 1939 until 1941 and then stationed at Canada and Iceland in 1942 before returning to home waters; in 1947 HMS Greenwich was sold into mercantile service.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Bernard Christopher Vivash (No. P/272124) was 54 when he died of bronchial carcinoma on 1 April 1944 in Mearnskirk Hospital, Glasgow and he was buried in Glasgow (Cardonald) Cemetery.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Bernard Christopher Vivash (No. P/272124) is commemorated on Donaghadee and District War Memorial.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Bernard Christopher Vivash’s nephew, Second Lieutenant Robert Norman Cecil Scott (No. 89740) was killed in action on 27 May 1940.
His mother, Emily Vivash, died on 16 January 1964, and his brother, Stewart Vivash, died on 23 December 1965. Both were buried in Ballyvester Cemetery, Donaghadee.
Below is a summary of Stewart Vivash’s Army service during and after the First World War:
Private (No. 12928) 1st Grenadier Guards
Sergeant (No. 143026) Royal Engineers
Acting WO 2 Royal Engineers
2nd Lieutenant (field commission) Somerset Light Infantry with effect from 26 June 1918
Lieutenant attached to South Lancashire Regiment in Dublin in 1921 conducting house searches.
Stewart Vivash moved to the USA and he and Jessie Mitchell Calvert were married in Los Angeles, California on 8 February 1924. They returned to Belfast and Jessie died on 21 July 1961. She was buried in Belfast City Cemetery.