William Durrant Warford

A Skipper with H.M. Trawler Royalo, William died on 1 September 1940, aged 45.

William was born at Pakefield on 24 August 1895, a son of William Durrant and Susan Warford. In 1915 William lived at Rochester Road, and then at 8 Rant Score East. 

On 12 October 1916 William married Alice Maud Knights at Saint Margaret’s Church. William was serving with the Royal Naval Reserve and gave his address as 229 Clapham Road and Alice lived at 190 Raglan Street. In 1921 they lived at 7 Norwich Road. By 1939 they were living at 206 Clapham Road and William was a trawler fisherman.    
William enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve on 7 October 1915, service number 9028 D.A, and served as the Second Hand on the trawler D.H.S. William was ‘noted for war services’ at the Strait of Otranto on 15 May 1917. He joined the trawler Gowanlea on 1 April 1918 and was demobilised on 25 March 1919. 

William was awarded his certificate of competency as a Second Hand in 1921 his Skipper’s certificate in 1923. 

William was appointed Temporary Skipper with the Royal Naval Reserve with seniority from 2 January 1940, service number W.S. 3182 and then T.S. 299. He was drafted to H.M.S. Europa on 29 February 1940 and took command of the trawler Clythness on 12 March 1940. On 6 May 1940 he took command of the minesweeping trawler Royalo. 
On 1 September 1940 the Royalo was sweeping for mines at Mount’s Bay, off Penzance, when the trawler was blown up by a magnetic mine and six crew, including William, were killed. William’s body was recovered a few days later. 

William was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, London Gazette 1 January 1941.