William Gallant

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Kent County, William died on 8th of December 1916 at the age of 47. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 10 October 1869, a son of James and Emma Gallant. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 7 November 1869. In 1871 his family lived at Scarl’s Buildings. By 1881 they were living at 10 Burtons Place. In 1891 William was working as a general labourer and lodging at 2 Timpson Street, Liverpool. In 1901 he was working on the trawler Autumn at Penzance.  

On 6 January 1902 William married Agnes Neve at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. William was a fisherman and they each gave their address as 3 Mariners Street, and this was still their home in 1914. Later Agnes lived at 15 Albany Road.

Bertie joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 10 August 1914 and served on the drifter Kent County. The Kent County was a Special Service Vessel, also known as Q-Ships. The drifter was sunk by a mine about one mile off Cross Sand, near Lowestoft, with the loss of all ten members of crew.