b. 1863 Chelsea, London. d. 09/1902 Liverpool, Lancashire.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 17/12/1885 Cape Horn.
Harry was the eldest son of four children of George H and Sarah Pochin, born in Chelsea, London. His father, who originally came from Leicester, moved the family north and they settled in Nottingham. On 23rd July 1880, aged 17, Harry became an apprentice in the Merchant Navy, and served aboard on the Ennerdale. There was a delay in the announcement of his Albert Medal due to an investigation into why he deserted ship on 25th February 1886. Pochin was awarded his medal by the Mayor of Nottingham, but later lost his medal at sea, and was refused a replacement.
AM CITATION:
On the 17th December, 1885, soon after 5.30 A.M., .as the “Ennerdale” was rounding Cape Horn, an apprentice, named Duncan McCallum, fell from aloft into the sea, striking the rigging in his fall. HARRY S. POCHIN, an A.B., immediately leapt overboard after him, but McCallum sank before he could reach him. The water was intensely cold, and POCHIN was seized with cramp, and was on the point of sinking, when he was reached and kept afloat by Mr. Whistler, first mate of the vessel, who jumped overboard to his assistance’. Considerable delay occurred in launching a boat from the vessel, and both men were forty minutes in the water, and were thoroughly exhausted before they were picked up, and became quite insensible on being lifted into the boat. A huge albatross, which had hovered round the two men preparing to attack them, had to be driven off with a boat-hook.
BURIAL LOCATION: EVERTON CEMETERY, LIVERPOOL, LANCASHIRE.
SECTION 4 GRAVE 174.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: LOST AT SEA.
