Able Seaman W Ferguson 1917
W.FERGUSON
Able Seaman RN. J/19681
HMS ‘P.32’
10th June 1917 Age 20
God takes those we love
from our homes
but not from our hearts
FERGUSON, W
Rank:…………………....….Able Seaman
Service No:………………J/19681(PO)
Date of Death:………....10/06/1917
Age:……………………….....20
Service:………………….....Royal Navy
…………………………….......H.M.S. "P.32."
Grave Reference:……..13. 396.
Cemetery:
LOWESTOFT (BECCLES ROAD) CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of James and Lucy Ferguson; husband of Margaret L. Hubble (formerly Ferguson), of 10, Sparhams Buildings, St. Peter's St., Lowestoft. Born at Fulham, London.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/397570/FERGUSON,%20W
The WW1 Naval Casualties database records that Able Seaman J.19681 William Ferguson, Royal Navy, was “Killed or died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action”, on the 10th June 1917 whilst serving aboard HMS P32. He was buried in North Lowestoft Cemetery, Beccles Road, Lowestoft. The next of kin informed of his death was his widow, who has subsequently re-married – Mrs M.L. Hubble of 10 Sparham Buildings, St Peters Street, Lowestoft. William was born Fulham, London on the 26th November 1896.
The Royal Navy Service Records for J19681 William Ferguson, born Fulham, London on the 26th November 1896, are held at the National Archive under reference ADM 188/686/19681
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6871762
26th November 1896 – Birth
(Source – WW1 Naval Casualties and the Catalogue entry for his Service Records at the National Archive).
The birth of a William Ferguson was registered in the Fulham District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1896.
A possible match for his wife in the birth records of England and Wales is that of a Margaret Leah Pether, registered in the Yarmouth District of Norfolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1897. This is the only match between 1837 and 1983. However while there is no likely matching death record for Margaret, she is also doesn’t appear to be on the census.
1901 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The 4 year old William Ferguson, born Fulham, London, was recorded living in one of the two households at 57 Brecon Road, Fulham. The head of his household was his father James, aged 33 and a Plasterer from Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland and mother, Lucy, aged 27, born Richmond, Surrey. As well as William their other children are:-
James…..aged 8…..born Fulham
Lucy……aged 6…..born Fulham
Ellen……aged 1…..born Fulham
1911 Census of England and Wales
The Ferguson family were still living at 57 Brecon Road, Fulham. Parents James, (43) and Lucy, (37), have been married 19 years and have had 8 children, all then still alive, (and also all still single and living at home!)
James…….aged 18….Entering Clerk for a Picture Framers
Lucy……..aged 16…..Improver for a Milliner
William….aged 14…..G.P.O. Telegraph Messenger
Ellen……..aged 11
Edith Emily..aged 8
Jessie Margaret..aged 5
Walter……aged 2
Alice Lilian..aged 2 months
All the children were born Fulham.
1917 – likely marriage
The marriage of a William Ferguson to a Margaret L Pether was recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1917. Mutford District included Lowestoft and the nearby villages.
Post August 1911 it had become compulsory when registering the birth of a child with the Civil Authorities in England and Wales to also record the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Births for England and Wales produces one possible child of William and Margaret.
The birth of a William J Ferguson, mothers maiden name Pether, was registered in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1917.
His ship
The P class, nominally described as "patrol boats", was in effect a class of coastal sloops. Twenty-four ships to this design were ordered in May 1915 (numbered P.11 to P.34) and another thirty between February and June 1916 (numbered P.35 to P.64) under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in the First World War, although ten of the latter group were in December 1916 altered on the stocks before launch for use as decoy Q-ships and were renumbered as PC-class sloops. None were named, although in 1925 P.38 was given the name Spey.
These vessels were designed to replace destroyers in coastal operations, but had twin screws, a very low freeboard, ram bows of hardened steel, a sharply cutaway funnel and a small turning circle. Clearly seen as the linear descendants of the late 19th century steam torpedo boats and coastal destroyers, many were actually fitted with the 14 in torpedo tubes removed from old torpedo boats.
P.32 was built by W. Harkess & Sons, Middlesbrough. Launched 20th January 1916, she was sold for breaking up on the 1st December 1921.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-class_sloop
On the day
Sunday, 10 June 1917
P.32, patrol boat
FERGUSON, William, Able Seaman, J 19681 (Po), illness
ISTED, Edward P, Petty Officer, 233454 (Po), illness
www.worldwar1atsea.net/xDKCas1917-06Jun.htm
The death of a William Ferguson, aged 20 was recorded in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1917.
However the General Registrars Office Index of Marine deaths has a 21 year old William Ferguson recorded as dying at sea on the P.32. His depot ship was H.M.S. Halcyon 11.
Postscript
The marriage of a Thomas H Hubble to a Margaret L Ferguson was recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918. A search for children registered with the surname Hubble, mothers maiden name Pether brings up 6 matches, all between 1918 and 1931 and all in the Mutford District.
Able Seaman W Ferguson 1917
W.FERGUSON
Able Seaman RN. J/19681
HMS ‘P.32’
10th June 1917 Age 20
God takes those we love
from our homes
but not from our hearts
FERGUSON, W
Rank:…………………....….Able Seaman
Service No:………………J/19681(PO)
Date of Death:………....10/06/1917
Age:……………………….....20
Service:………………….....Royal Navy
…………………………….......H.M.S. "P.32."
Grave Reference:……..13. 396.
Cemetery:
LOWESTOFT (BECCLES ROAD) CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of James and Lucy Ferguson; husband of Margaret L. Hubble (formerly Ferguson), of 10, Sparhams Buildings, St. Peter's St., Lowestoft. Born at Fulham, London.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/397570/FERGUSON,%20W
The WW1 Naval Casualties database records that Able Seaman J.19681 William Ferguson, Royal Navy, was “Killed or died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action”, on the 10th June 1917 whilst serving aboard HMS P32. He was buried in North Lowestoft Cemetery, Beccles Road, Lowestoft. The next of kin informed of his death was his widow, who has subsequently re-married – Mrs M.L. Hubble of 10 Sparham Buildings, St Peters Street, Lowestoft. William was born Fulham, London on the 26th November 1896.
The Royal Navy Service Records for J19681 William Ferguson, born Fulham, London on the 26th November 1896, are held at the National Archive under reference ADM 188/686/19681
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6871762
26th November 1896 – Birth
(Source – WW1 Naval Casualties and the Catalogue entry for his Service Records at the National Archive).
The birth of a William Ferguson was registered in the Fulham District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1896.
A possible match for his wife in the birth records of England and Wales is that of a Margaret Leah Pether, registered in the Yarmouth District of Norfolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1897. This is the only match between 1837 and 1983. However while there is no likely matching death record for Margaret, she is also doesn’t appear to be on the census.
1901 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The 4 year old William Ferguson, born Fulham, London, was recorded living in one of the two households at 57 Brecon Road, Fulham. The head of his household was his father James, aged 33 and a Plasterer from Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland and mother, Lucy, aged 27, born Richmond, Surrey. As well as William their other children are:-
James…..aged 8…..born Fulham
Lucy……aged 6…..born Fulham
Ellen……aged 1…..born Fulham
1911 Census of England and Wales
The Ferguson family were still living at 57 Brecon Road, Fulham. Parents James, (43) and Lucy, (37), have been married 19 years and have had 8 children, all then still alive, (and also all still single and living at home!)
James…….aged 18….Entering Clerk for a Picture Framers
Lucy……..aged 16…..Improver for a Milliner
William….aged 14…..G.P.O. Telegraph Messenger
Ellen……..aged 11
Edith Emily..aged 8
Jessie Margaret..aged 5
Walter……aged 2
Alice Lilian..aged 2 months
All the children were born Fulham.
1917 – likely marriage
The marriage of a William Ferguson to a Margaret L Pether was recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1917. Mutford District included Lowestoft and the nearby villages.
Post August 1911 it had become compulsory when registering the birth of a child with the Civil Authorities in England and Wales to also record the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Births for England and Wales produces one possible child of William and Margaret.
The birth of a William J Ferguson, mothers maiden name Pether, was registered in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1917.
His ship
The P class, nominally described as "patrol boats", was in effect a class of coastal sloops. Twenty-four ships to this design were ordered in May 1915 (numbered P.11 to P.34) and another thirty between February and June 1916 (numbered P.35 to P.64) under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in the First World War, although ten of the latter group were in December 1916 altered on the stocks before launch for use as decoy Q-ships and were renumbered as PC-class sloops. None were named, although in 1925 P.38 was given the name Spey.
These vessels were designed to replace destroyers in coastal operations, but had twin screws, a very low freeboard, ram bows of hardened steel, a sharply cutaway funnel and a small turning circle. Clearly seen as the linear descendants of the late 19th century steam torpedo boats and coastal destroyers, many were actually fitted with the 14 in torpedo tubes removed from old torpedo boats.
P.32 was built by W. Harkess & Sons, Middlesbrough. Launched 20th January 1916, she was sold for breaking up on the 1st December 1921.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-class_sloop
On the day
Sunday, 10 June 1917
P.32, patrol boat
FERGUSON, William, Able Seaman, J 19681 (Po), illness
ISTED, Edward P, Petty Officer, 233454 (Po), illness
www.worldwar1atsea.net/xDKCas1917-06Jun.htm
The death of a William Ferguson, aged 20 was recorded in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1917.
However the General Registrars Office Index of Marine deaths has a 21 year old William Ferguson recorded as dying at sea on the P.32. His depot ship was H.M.S. Halcyon 11.
Postscript
The marriage of a Thomas H Hubble to a Margaret L Ferguson was recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918. A search for children registered with the surname Hubble, mothers maiden name Pether brings up 6 matches, all between 1918 and 1931 and all in the Mutford District.