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Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Staffordshire, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Joseph Ward

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Stoker 1st Class Joseph Ward

Joseph Ward was born in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, on 13th January 1890. The four of five children – all boys – his parents were William and Caroline. William was a coal miner-turned-weighman, but Joseph found work as a riveter when he completed his schooling.

It seems that Joseph sought any employment to avoid going down the mines, and, on 26th August 1910, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records show that he was 5ft 3ins (1,6m) tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a sallow complexion. He was also noted as having a dot or mole on the back of this left forearm and another on the back of his left hand.

Joseph was given the rank of Stoker 2nd Class, and was sent to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, Devon, for training. This would be his base of operations, and he would return there a number of times in the coming years.

On 4th January 1911, Stoker Ward was given his first posting, on board the armoured cruiser HMS Cumberland. he remained on board for more than two-and-a-half years, and gained a promotion to Stoker 1st Class during this time.

In October 1913, Joseph returned to Devonport, remaining on shore for more than three months. His service record notes he was confined to the Dockyard Sick Quarters for three days, although the cause is not given. In January 1914, he returned to sea again, on board another cruiser, HMS Highflyer. This would prove another lengthy assignment, and Stoker Ward would not return to HMS Vivid for more than three years.

During his short spell ashore, Joseph returned to Staffordshire. He married Lily Wright, a tailoress from Wednesbury. Their honeymoon was brief, however, and he was given a new assignment.

Stoker Ward was attached to HMS Valkyrie, a newly commissioned destroyer attached to the Harwich Force. On 22nd December 1917, she was escorting a convoy to the Netherlands when she struck a mine. Twelve of the crew – including Joseph – were killed, while a further seven subsequently succumbed to their injuries. The Valkyrie was towed to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for repairs.

Joseph Ward was 27 years of age when he was killed. He was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, not far from the Kent naval base.

Tragically, Lily was pregnant when her husband was killed. On 25th February 1918, she gave birth to their child, Flora, the daughter Joseph would never know.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Leading Stoker, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Albert Willingham

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Stoker 1st Class Albert Willingham

Albert Willingham was born in Upchurch, Kent, on 4th January 1888. One of eleven children, his parents were George and Annie Willingham. George was a brickmaker and labourer, who moved his family to where the work was. By the time of the 1891 census, they had relocated to the nearby town of Gillingham, and were living on the waterfront at 5 Danes Hill.

As the family grew, so they kept moving. The census of 1901 found the ten Willinghams – George, Annie and eight children including 13-year-old Albert and his youngest sibling, 11-day-old Ada – residing at 5 Court Lodge Road. The small terraced house would still be crowded, however, and this may have been one of the factors pushing Albert to bigger and better things.

Having followed his older brothers into labouring work, Albert decided enough was enough. On 13th July 1908, he enlisted in the Royal Navy, joining up as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service records show that he had brown eyes, dark brown hair and a ruddy complexion. He was 5ft 8.5ins (1.73m) tall.

Stoker Willingham was first sent to HMS Acheron, the training frigate, for his induction. He remained on board for six months, before moving to the cruiser HMS Dido in January 1909. Over the next six years, Albert served on seven further ships, returning to what became his home base, HMS Pembroke in Kent, in between voyages.

Albert quickly became well-travelled, and he served in the Somaliland Expedition, and in the operations in the Persian Gulf between 1909 and 1914. The 1911 census recorded him as being a stoker on board HMS Hyacinth, which was then moored in Bombay (now Mumbai), India.

While on board Hyacinth, Albert was promoted to Stoker 1st Class, and in April 1915, with the war raging around him, he was promoted again, to Acting Leading Stoker. At the end of that month, he was transferred to what would be his final ship, HMS Princess Irene.

She was an ocean liner that had been requisitioned at the outbreak of war, and converted to a minelayer. On 27th May 1915, while moored off Sheerness, Kent, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew. Acting Leading Stoker Willingham was among those who perished: he was 27 years of age.

The body of Albert Willingham was buried in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, just a short walk from his family’s home.

Albert’s headstone records the permanent rank he held at the time of his passing, rather than acting one he had been temporarily given. He is therefore noted as Stoker 1st Class, instead of Acting Leading Stoker.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Middlesex, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Albert Knieriem

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Stoker 1st Class Albert Knieriem

Albert George Knieriem was born in Bromley-by-Bow, Middlesex, on 1st January 1892. The eighth of nine children, his parents were German-born Gottliept (anglicised to George) Knieriem, and his London-born wife, Caroline.

George was a labourer at the local gas works, and the family had rooms at 3 Hancock Road. Their home has long since gone, but the Knieriems shared the property with the Richard and Eliza Bone and their four children.

George passed away in March 1906, with Caroline dying less than eighteen months later. Albert found himself an orphan at just 15 years of age. It seems that his oldest brother, also called George, found him employment as a local iron foundry. By the time of the 1911 census, he was boarding with the Fryatt family, at 29 Hancock Road, not far from the old family home.

Albert sought bigger and better things for himself, however, and was drawn to a life at sea. On 14th July 1911 he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, and that he has light brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Knieriem was initially sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He remained there for four months, before being given his first posting, on board the cruiser HMS Intrepid. She would be his home for the best part of a year, during which time Albert was promoted to Stoker 1st Class.

In September 1912, Albert transferred to HMS Acteon. A former hulk, she was based at Sheerness, Kent, as was used as a torpedo school. Albert would remain there for more than two years, attached to the school’s tender, HMS Kestrel.

On 18th January 1915, Stoker 1st Class Knieriem’s service records note one word: “Run”. Albert had absconded, remaining at large for two months. He was apprehended on 23rd March, and sentenced to 28 days’ detention for going AWOL. Put back on duty on 28th April, he was reassigned, to the former cruise liner, HMS Princess Irene.

The Princess Irene had been requisitioned by the Royal Navy on the outbreak of war and converted into a minelayer. On the morning of 27th May 1915, she was moored in the Medway Estuary and was being loaded with mines. A faulty primer set off a series of explosions, destroying the ship and killing more than 250 crew, Stoker 1st Class Knieriem among them. He was 23 years of age.

Albert’s name comes up in a newspaper article about one of the subsequent enquiries. The Coroner’s inquest on 18th June focused on the bodies in coffins 29 to 34.

No. 32 body was very much shattered. It was dressed as a stoker. The name “A. G Knieriem” was no the band of the trousers.

The body was identified as that of Albert George Knieriem, aged 23, stoker, 1st class, of Bromley-by-Bow.

[Sheerness Guardian and East Kent Advertiser: Saturday 19th June 1915]

Albert’s body was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent. He was buried alongside some of the other crew whose bodies had been rescued and identified.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Middlesex, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class William James

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Stoker 1st Class William James

William Charles James was born on 12th September 1893, the ninth of ten children to John and Isabella James. John was a sawyer from Shoreditch, Middlesex, and this is where he and his Surrey-born wife raised their family.

By the time of the 1911 census, John and Isabella were living in four rooms at 36 Falkirk Street, Hoxton, Middlesex with three of their children – including William – and Isabella’s brother, Charles. The building was inhabited by 17 people in total, four families renting out the nine rooms of the house.

The James family had three wages coming in. In addition to John’s work at the wood mill, his brother-in-law was employed as a casual winder cleaner. William was also in work, serving as an office boy a a draper’s warehouse. Isabella would have been running the household and looking after her youngest, schoolboy Thomas. William’s 27-year-old sister, Rachel, completed the household: she was not working, but was noted as having been suffering from a chest disease for at least four years.

Whether seeking a life away from London’s East End, or to bring in a more permanent wage for his family, William sought a more stable and financially lucrative career. On 8th January 1913, he enlisted in the Royal Navy for the standard twelve-year contract. His service records show that he had progressed from an office boy to a clerk, and confirm his physical features: he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. His records also highlight a scar on his left forearm and another above his right eye.

William was given the rank of Stoker 2nd Class, and sent off to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, to be trained. After six months he was given his first assignment, on board the cruiser HMS Forward, which would remain his home for the next two years.

During his time on Forward, William, rising to Stoker 1st Class in January 1914. The ship was assigned to patrol the eastern coast of England, and, in December that year, bore witness – but was not directly involved in – the German bombardment of Hartlepool.

In April 1915 Stoker James was moved to HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner requisitioned on the outbreak of war and converted to a minelayer. On the morning of 27th May 1915, she was moored in the Medway Estuary and was being loaded with mines in preparation for a mission. At 11:14am, a faulty primer on board set off a series of explosions, and she blew apart and sank. More than 250 crew – including Stoker 1st Class James – were killed. He was just 21 years of age.

The body of William Charles James was brought ashore and laid to rest in the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent. He was buried alongside some of the other crew whose bodies had been rescued and identified.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Signalman, story, Suffolk, war

Ordinary Signalman Frederick Timms

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Ordinary Signalman Frederick Timms

Frederick James Timms was born on 21st January 1897 in Watford, Hertfordshire. One of ten children – and the oldest surviving boy – his parents were Frederick and Rosina Timms. Frederick Sr was a farm labourer, but when his son completed his schooling, he found work with a blacksmith.

Frederick Jr wanted bigger and better things, however, and, on 18th April 1913, he enlisted in the Royal Navy, set on a life at sea. As he was below the age to be a full recruit, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and was sent to HMS Ganges, the navy’s training base on the outskirts of Ipswich, Suffolk, for his induction.

During his initial training, Boy Timms seems to have had some educational affinity. Seven months after enlisting, he was moved to the signal corps, and ranked as Signal Boy accordingly. In April 1914, a year after enlisting, he was transferred to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, for posting. He was assigned to the battleship HMS Duncan, his first formal service at sea.

Over the next year, Frederick served on three further ships, coming of age on board the cruiser HMS Latona. Now formally inducted into to the Royal Navy, he was assigned the rank of Ordinary Signalman.

In March 1915, Frederick was transferred again, to HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner built in 1914 for the Canadian Pacific Railway. With the outbreak of the war, she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy, and converted to a minelayer. In the spring of 1915, she was involved in laying a minefield to the north west of Heligoland, but spent much of her time in and around the Thames Estuary.

On the morning of 27th May 1915, Princess Irene was moored in the Medway Estuary and was being loaded with mines in preparation for a mission. At 11:14am, she exploded and disintegrated, taking two neighbouring barges with her. More than 250 crew – including Ordinary Signalman Timms – were killed. He was just 18 years of age.

Frederick James Timms body was laid to rest in the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, alongside some of the other crew whose bodies had been rescued and identified.

Frederick’s death was the second tragedy to strike the Timms family in less than a fortnight. Back in Hertfordshire, Rosina had been pregnant with her eleventh child. On 16th May, she had had an internal haemorrhage, which resulted in the loss of both mother and child.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, Leading Signalman, photography, Royal Navy, Signalman, story, war

Leading Signalman Alexander Daisley

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Leading Seaman Alexander Daisley

Alexander William Arthur Daisley was born on 13th November 1886, and was the second of four children to William and Judith Daisley. William was a Private in the Royal Marines and, as the time his son was born, the family were based in Dartmouth, Devon. By the time of the 1891 census, however, they had moved to Kent, and were billeted in family accommodation in the Milton Barracks, near Gravesend.

Ten years on, and the 1901 census confirms that the Daisleys had relocated again. William had left his military service behind him, and had taken up work as a publican at the Seven Stars Inn in Litlington, Cambridgeshire. Alexander is noticeable in his absence from the record, however. The following year, he surfaces again, however, and seems that he was destined to follow his father’s naval career.

On 10th April 1902, Alexander enlisted in the Royal Navy. At just 15 years of age, he was assigned the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and was sent to HMS St Vincent, a training ship based in Haslar, Hampshire, for his induction. He remained there for the next fifteen months, gaining promotion to Boy 1st Class in February 1903.

Alexander spent the second half of that year at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, before being given his first posting in November. His assignment was on board the armoured cruiser HMS Good Hope: she was to become his home for the next year and a half, during which he came of age, and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy.

At this point, Alexander’s service records give an insight into the man he was becoming. He was noted as being just 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall, with hazel eyes and light brown hair. He had a fair complexion and three scars on the back of his head. It seems that he had some aptitude, as he was given the rank of Signalman, rather than being directed to the role of seaman.

Over the next twelve years – the term of his contract – Signalman Daisley would serve on eight ships: in between assignments he would return to his Portsmouth base. His time in the Royal Navy was not without incident, and he spent three separate periods in the cells – 14 days in 1907, 17 days in 1908 and 10 days in 1909. Despite this, he was promoted to the rank of Leading Seaman in January 1913, while serving on board HMS Egmont, an armoured frigate.

On 9th March 1915, Leading Signalman Daisley was assigned to HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner that had been converted to a minelayer at the start of the war.

On 27th May 1915, while Irene was moored off Sheerness, Kent, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew. Leading Signalman Daisley was among those who perished: he was 29 years of age.

The body of Alexander William Arthur Daisley was buried in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, alongside the other victims of the disaster.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Great War, history, killed in action, Middlesex, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war, Yorkshire

Stoker Henry Souter

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Stoker Henry Souter

Henry Souter was born in Thornaby, Yorkshire, on 10th August 1887 and was the youngest of four children. His father, John, died when he was just a year old, leaving his mother, Jane to raise the family single-handedly. To do this she found piecemeal work as a charwoman, sharing their home – 3 Edward Street – with two other families.

Henry is absent from the 1901 census, but his mother had moved to Willesden, Middlesex. His sister, Isabella, had married the year before, and she and her husband had relocated to London, presumably for work, taking Jane with them.

By the 1911 return, Henry was boarding with his brother James and his family. The siblings were living at 44 Spring Street, and both were working at a local iron works, James as a pipe moulder, Henry as a rolling miller.

When war came to Europe in the summer of 1914, Henry was called upon to play his part. His service records are long since lost, but he was attached to the Royal Naval Reserve as a Stoker, suggesting previous employment in the navy.

By the end of the year Stoker Souter had been assigned to the battleship HMS Formidable. A key vessel in the Channel Fleet, her role was part of a convoy patrolling the seas of the southern coast of Britain.

Early on the morning of 1st January 1915, while off the Dorset coast, the battleship was torpedoed by a German submarine. Other ships in her convoy came to her aid, but it would prove fruitless. After a couple of hours – and another torpedo strike – she sank, taking more than 540 officer and crew – including Stoker Souter – were lost. He was 27 years of age.

Henry Souter’s body was recovered, and was able to be identified. He had been brought ashore in Lyme Regis, Dorset, and he was laid to rest in a communal grave in the town’s cemetery.

Henry’s next-of-kin were identified as his sister, Annie, who was living in Thornaby, and his mother, Jane. Her address was given as 25 Melville Road, Stonebridge Park, London: she was still living with Isabella and her family – husband George and their six children.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Essex, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Middlesex, photography, Royal Navy, story, Sussex, war

Boy 1st Class Bernard Smyth

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Boy 1st Class Bernard Smyth

Bernard Arthur de Plumley Smyth was born in Erith, Kent, on 16th September 1897. The second of four children – all of them boys – his parents were Reginald and Emily Smyth.

Bernard’s early life was a delicate one, and he spent at least some time at Great Ormond’s Street Hospital in Camden, London. His weakened health was such that he was baptised at the hospital’s local church – St George the Martyr – on 11th February 1900.

It is intriguing to see Reginald Smyth’s life develop over the years. His son’s baptism record gives his line of work as labourer, but by the following year’s census, he had moved the family to Ifield, West Sussex, where he was noted as living on his own means. Moving forward another decade, and the family had moved again, settling in a 9-roomed villa in Burgess Hill. Reginald was now listed as being a nurseryman and the family of six were sharing their home with boarder Horatio Jacoby, who was living by private means.

Bernard was still a schoolboy at this point. His health had seeming recovered over the years, and he was ready to make his mark on the world. On 6th March 1913, he enlisted as a Boy 2nd Class in the Royal Navy. His service records show that he was 5ft 3ins (1.59m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Boy Smyth was initially sent to HMS Ganges, the shore-based establishment in Suffolk, for his training. He remined there for six months, and was promoted to Boy 1st Class for his work.

On 26th September 1913, Bernard was given his first posting, on board the cruiser HMS Grafton. He remained on board for nine months, before returning to shore – this time to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent – for the summer.

In August 1914, war was declared and by the end of that month, Boy 1st Class Smyth was given his second assignment, aboard the battleship HMS Formidable. She was a key vessel in the Channel Fleet, her role part of a convoy patrolling the seas of the southern coast of Britain.

Early on the morning of 1st January 1915, while off the Dorset coast, the battleship was torpedoed by a German submarine. Other ships in her convoy came to her aid, but it would prove fruitless. After a couple of hours – and another torpedo strike – she sank, taking more than 540 officer and crew – including Boy 1st Class Smyth – were lost. He was just 17 years of age.

We regret to record that a former scholar of the London Road Council Schools, Burgess Hill, lost his life through the disaster which came to HMS Formidable on January 1st. This was Bernard Arthur de Plumley Smith, the second son of Mr and Mrs Smyth, of Edward cottage, Brook Road, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, late of Elgin Villa, Crescent Road, Burgess Hill. He was 17 years of age, and a first-class boy on board the ship. He bore the reputation of being smart, steady ad industrious, and was well known in Burgess Hill…

[Mid Sussex Times: Tuesday 12th January 1915]

Bernard Arthur de Plumley Smith was laid to rest in a communal grave in Lyme Regis Cemetery, in the hills above the Dorset town where he had been brought ashore following his ship’s sinking.

Commonwealth War Graves, County Durham, Dorset, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class William Fawkes

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Stoker 1st Class William Fawkes

William Fawkes was born on 31st July 1883 in South Shields, Country Durham. One of seven children, his parents were called William and Ann. William Sr was a steam crane operator in the local docks, and the 1891 census found the family living with Ann’s widowed husband Ralph in an apartment on Bedford Street.

Ralph died not long after the census was taken, and it seems that William and Ann took over the tenancy. The 1901 return found the family living at 8 Bedford Street, this noted as being a private home. William Jr had finished school and was employed as a labourer to a blacksmith; three of his sibling were also gainfully employed, the family managing to scratch together enough of a living to pay the rent.

By the start of 1903, William Jr was starting to get itchy feet, and sought out a career on the ocean wave. On 5th January he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class, and was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 3.5ins (1.61m) tall, with bark hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion. He was also noted as having his initials – WH – tattooed on the back of his right hand.

Stoker Fawkes completed his training in October 1903, and was sent to the battleship HMS Sans Pareil as his first posting. He only remained on board for a couple of months, before a move to another battleship, HMS Resolution. In June 1904, he was transferred again, to HMS Swiftsure, a third battleship that he would call home for the next three years.

During his time on board Swiftsure, William was promoted, gaining the rank of Stoker 1st Class for his work. Over the next decade, he served on a further seven ships, returning to his base in Kent between voyages.

In the spring of 1904, William married Mary Hornby. The daughter of a publican, she had continued to support her mother and siblings after his death in 1897. With William at sea, the 1911 census found her living in a one-roomed apartment on Commercial Road in South Shields, together with her mother, Euphemia, and her son, James. He was born a couple of years before she married William and bore her maiden name: it is unclear whether James was her husband’s son.

By the summer of 1914, war had been declared, and Stoker 1st Class Fawkes had been assigned to another battleship, HMS Formidable. She was part of the Channel Fleet, her role to patrol the seas of the southern coast of Britain.

Early on the morning of 1st January 1915, while off the Dorset coast, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-24. Other ships in her convoy came to her aid, but it would prove fruitless. After a couple of hours she sank. 120 members of the crew were saved, but more than 540 officer and crew – including Stoker 1st Class Fawkes – were lost. He was 31 years of age.

William Fawkes’ body was one of those recovered and identified. It seems that Mary was unable to cover the cost of a funeral. Her husband was, instead, laid to rest in a communal grave in Lyme Regis Cemetery, in the hills above the Dorset town where he had been brought ashore.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Essex, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Leading Seaman, Middlesex, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, story, Surrey, war

Petty Officer William Feldon

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Petty Officer William Feldon

William Feldon was born on 16th October 1878, the middle of three children – and the only son – to William and Jessie Feldon. William Sr was a carpenter from Highgate, Middlesex, but it was south of the Thames, in Lambeth, Surrey, that the family were raised.

When he finished his schooling, William Jr found work as a general labourer. He was drawn to bigger and better things, however, and a life at sea was to catch his eye. In June 1894, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class. His service records noted that he was 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

By the time William had completed his initial training, he had been promoted to Boy 1st Class. He was then moved to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.

By October 1895, he was given his first posting, on board the torpedo cruiser HMS Archer, and he would remain assigned to her for the next two years. During this time, William came of age and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy, and was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His commitment to the service was pretty clear, and, within seven months he had been promoted again, to Able Seaman.

After a short spell back at Pembroke, William was assigned to HMS Wildfire, another shore establishment just along the coast in Sheerness. He remained there for nine months, during which time he was promoted again, to the rank of Leading Seaman.

In May 1899, William was moved to another posting, on board the gunboat HMS Partridge. This assignment provide him with the route to further promotion: he remained on board until July 1901, having risen to Petty Office 2nd Class on 1st July 1899 and Petty Officer 1st Class on 23rd September 1900.

Over the remainder of his initial term of service, William served on six further vessels. The sea was in his blood by this point, and when his contracted ended on 15th October 1908, he re-enlisted without any hesitation.

Away from the Navy, William fell in love. On 23rd October 1909, he married Ada Plumpton, who was 25 years old, and who lived in Battersea, Surrey. The couple exchanged vows at St Faith’s Church in Southwark, but settled down in the village of Dovercourt, Essex. They went on to have two children, Doris, who was born in 1910, and Elsie, who came along the following year.

Back at sea, Petty Officer Feldon was assigned to the cruiser HMS Boadicea. He spent two years on board, before moving to another cruiser, HMS Blonde, for another two years. In between voyages, William returned to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham.

On 13th January 1914, Petty Officer Feldon was posted to the battleship HMS Formidable, part of the Channel Fleet patrolling the seas of the southern coast of Britain.

Early on the morning of 1st January 1915, while off the Dorset coast, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-24. Other ships in her convoy came to help, but after a couple of hours – and another torpedo strike – the damage was too great and she sank. 120 members of the crew were saved, but more than 540 officer and crew – including Petty Officer Feldon – were lost. He was 36 years of age.

William Feldon’s body was one of those recovered and identified. He was laid to rest in a communal grave in Lyme Regis Cemetery, in the hills above the Dorset town where he had been brought ashore.