2nd Lieutenant Basil Evelyn St. Clair NINNES
HMS Monarch Royal Navy and Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 24th January 1895
Date of death: 7th April 1933

Died aged 38
Unknown
Basil Evelyn St. Clair Ninnes was born in Hythe in Kent on the 24th of January 1895 the second son of Frederick Benjamin Ninnes, a silversmith, and Antonia Frances (nee Ball) Ninnes of 1 Douglas Avenue, Hythe in Kent.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until December 1907 where he was a member of the Choir and a member of the Football XI in 1905, 1906 and 1907. He was a member of the Cricket XI in 1906 and 1907. The school magazine wrote the following on his 1905 football season: - "(Full back) - Should, with greater experience, make a very useful defender; his kicking lacks length, but his tackling is first rate and his charging effective."

Of his 1906 football season they wrote: - "(Left half) - A robust tackler and fair kick - slow and weak with his left- must learn to "feed" his forwards with more accuracy and persistence."

Of his 1907 football season they wrote: - "(Back) - Fine fearless tackler, and strong kick with either foot; a tower of strength in defence."

They wrote the following on his 1906 cricket season: - "A fine field and safe catch. A big hitter, but regardless of defence, with a very straight bat at right angles to his body."

Of his 1907 cricket season they wrote: - "Has failed to make headway as a bat, but his fielding has reached a very high standard."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "...has been snatched up by the Navy when we could ill afford to spare him. We lose in him one of our choristers, and a brilliant exponent of every branch of athletics."

On the 5th of January 1908, he entered the Royal Naval College Osborne. He went on to the Royal Naval College Dartmouth from January 1910 to December 1911 where he was a member of the 2nd Cricket XI in 1910 and of the Hockey XI in 1911. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1911.

He left for a posting to the armoured cruiser HMS Cornwall which went on a six month cruise of the Canary Islands, the West Indies and of North America before returning in July 1912. On the 21st of August 1912, he was posted to HMS King Edward VII and was appointed as a Midshipman in the Royal Navy on the 15th of September 1912. In the spring of 1913 he took part in the occupation of Sculari. While stationed at Malta he represented the Navy at rugby and at hockey and was engaged in gyroscopic work. On the 2nd of July 1914 he was taken ill and was admitted to Chatham Hospital on the 6th of July for observation and treatment for suspected tuberculosis. He was invalided out of the Navy on the 9th of March 1915 but later recovered and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Administrative Branch of the Royal Air Force on the 4th of June 1918. He was posted to Henley on the 7th of June and was posted to No.3 Stationary Depot on the 10th of August 1918. He was posted for service in France on the 4th of October 1918 where he was injured on the 6th of October and was taken to No.3 Stationary Hospital on the 11th of October.

He returned to duty on the 22nd of October 1918. He had hoped for a permanent commission but due to his ill health he was transferred to the Unemployed List on the 6th of September 1919. He enlisted at Cadet 1202 in the Auxiliary Division, Royal Irish Constabulary on the 8th of December 1920.

By 1921 he was serving in Ireland with L Company of the Auxiliaries who were stationed at Mount Leader House, Millstreet, West Muskerry, County Cork. The Company had to drive twice a week to Banteer to pick up supplies and drove the same route each time. A local unit of the Irish Republican Army had noted their routine and prepared an ambush for them. On the 16th of June 1921 the IRA men let the first convoy of the day pass by and return unhindered. The second convoy was also allowed to pass, but the ambush was arranged at the village of Rathcoole for their return. The IRA force consisted of around one hundred and thirty men under the command the Vice Commander of the local Brigade, Paddy O’Brien from Liscarroll. The IRA men spent the night before the ambush in Rathcoole Wood, which overlooked the road to Banteer. During the night, six landmines were laid on the road and covered with dust.

The convoy consisted of two open Crossley tenders, one armoured Crossley and one armoured Lancia (leading) with twenty five personnel from L Company. Basil Ninnes was travelling in the second vehicle of the convoy. At 7.30pm the four lorries were passing through the ambush area on their return journey when three landmines, which had been placed on the road, exploded. One mine detonated as the last of the four lorries drove over it, a second mine was then detonated under the second vehicle in the convoy, and the final mine detonated under the leading vehicle (the armoured Lancia) which had turned around to go back to the other vehicles. The armour plate protecting the engine of the Lancia was later discovered some forty yards away. A firefight developed. Most of the IRA positions were to the south of the road, but two sections were to the north to prevent the Auxiliaries using the walls on that side as shelter. The engagement lasted until about 9.45pm, when a stalemate was reached, and the IRA men began running short of ammunition, they withdrew. It was reported that they had left the body of one of their number behind them, and were seen to be carrying two or three others who were also believed to have died, but this has not been established as the IRA reported that they had suffered no casualties. Two Auxiliaries had died during the attack and a number had been badly wounded.

The dead were Cadets Frederick Edgar Shorter and William Arthur Hamilton Boyd, formerly of the Royal Sussex Regiment. Basil Ninnes was badly wounded and was later awarded £2,000 in compensation for his injuries and an additional £14 for loss of property. He was granted an annual pension of £97 and 10 shillings from the 26th of February 1922.

On leaving the army he became Secretary of the Folkestone Greyhound Racing Company in 1928. The company had planned to rent fourteen acres of land off Danton Road at Cheriton near Folkestone to build a racing track which was to have a capacity of ten thousand and was to open in 1929. The plans were met with strong local opposition and collapsed a short time later.

In early 1930 he was married at St Martin's Church in London to Ida Henrietta Blyth (nee Tanare). He was a member of the United Services Club and was club secretary of the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly until he was forced to resign the position due to failing health.

he died at the Royal Kent Hotel at Sandgate in Kent.
Went on to Royal Naval College

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