William George Blanch

A Deck Hand with H.M.S. Blackmorevale, William died on 1st of May 1918 at the age of 30. 

William was born at Mutford on 11 December 1888, a son of George Edgar and Ellen Blanch. He was baptised at Saint Andrew’s Church, Mutford, on 27 January 1889. In 1891 his family lived at Mill Road, Mutford, and in 1901 at Church Road, Mutford and this was still the family address in 1917. Later his parents lived at Mill Lane, Barnby. William has not been traced in the 1911 Census. 

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 14 May 1917. He had previously served with the Yacht Section. William served with H.M.S. Vivid until 24 July 1917 when he joined H.M.S. Pekin. On 6 August 1917 he joined the trawler John Pascoe and then, on 10 April 1918 he joined H.M.S. Gunner and was deployed to the minesweeper H.M.S. Blackmorevale.

On 1 May 1918 the Blackmorevale was minesweeping off the Firth of Forth in a minefield area known as Minefield 40. At 2 p.m. the ship struck a mine and the explosion wrecked all of the fore bridge killing all of the officers and men in that part of the ship. The fore stoke hold also began to flood. Two officers and one rating attempted to remove survivors and salve the ship. The aft stoke hold and engine-room were then flooding as well. H.M.S. Holderness had attached two hawsers, but the Blackmorevale listed and at 3.45 p.m. had to be abandoned. Three officers and 23 men, including William, were lost.