William Simon Whiting

A Engineman with H.M. Drifter Eyrie. William died on 2nd of September 1914 at the age of 44. 

William was born at Leiston, Suffolk, in 1869, a son of George and Sophia Whiting. In 1871 his family lived at Coldfair Green, Leiston, and in 1881 at Snape Road, Leiston. By 1891 William was living at The Common, Friston, and working as a maltster's labourer. 

William married Jane Clark in 1893. In 1901 they lived at Cold Fair Green, Leiston, and William worked as a engine driver. By 1911 they were living at 89 Worthing Road, Lowestoft, and William was a marine engine driver on a steam drifter. Later they lived at 4 Harold Road, Lowestoft.

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 10 August 1914 and served on the drifter Eyrie. He died when H. M. Drifter Eyrie struck a mine in the North Sea. 

The Irish Times of Thursday 3 September 1914, page 6, has:

BLOWN UP BY MINES

News reached Lowestoft yesterday that the steam drifter Eyrie has been blown up by a sunken mine in the North Sea. Of the crew of eleven six were drowned. The disaster happened early yesterday, the vessel sinking in three minutes. The drowned included Thomas Scarll, William Slater, and Robert Burch, all belonging to Lowestoft. The Eyrie recently saved the crew of a Danish steamer sunk by a mine in the vicinity.