William Lionel Thompson

A Fourth Hand with the trawler Guide, William died on 23rd February 1916 at the age of 15.

William was born at Pakefield on 24 September 1900, a son of Walter William and Agnes Emily Thompson. He was baptised at All Saints' and Saint Margaret's Church, Pakefield, on 11 November 1900. William's family lived at 1 Florence Road, Pakefield, and this was still their home in 1911. 

From 9 May 1904 William attended Cunningham Infants School. 

During the First World War, William served as the Fourth Hand on the Lowestoft based trawler 'Guide'. 

The Guide left Lowestoft intending to fish in an area thirty miles south-east of Lowestoft and was seen on both 16 and 17 of February. The Guide was due to return on 22 February. The Skipper of the 'Little Boys', fishing twenty-five miles off Southwold reported seeing wreckage including debris bearing the name Guide. It was assumed that the Guide was lost, with all crew, and may have struck a mine.