William Henry Prior

A Deck Hand with H.M.S. Halcyon II., William died on 18th of August 1915 at the age of 19.

William was born at Gisleham on 30 December 1895, a son of Joseph and Maria Prior. He attended school at Gisleham before, on 17 May 1901, becoming a pupil at Cunningham School. In 1901 his family lived at 1 Carlton Road, Pakefield. In 1911 his family were living at Chamberlain's Cottages, Oulton Broad, and William was a drift net fisherman. Later his parents lived at Home Lea, Walmer Road, Lowestoft. 

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 March 1915. From March 1915 he served on the trawler Hilda and Ernest. In August 1915 he was at Lowestoft. 

The Lowestoft Journal, of 21 August 1914, page 4, explains what happened to William:

REVOLVER TRAGEDY AT LOWESTOFT

SAD DEATH OF R.N.R. MAN

The death place at Lowestoft Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, at 1.30, of William Henry Prior, aged 19 years, a Royal Naval Reservist, living at Walmer Road, South Lowestoft. The deceased was on a boat. With him was another Royal Naval Reservist named Arthur Hodson, aged 18. He was handling a revolver, when by some means it went off, the bullet entering Prior's stomach. He was taken to the Hospital, where he received every attention, but death took place as stated.  

A report of the inquest appeared in The Diss Express, of 27 August 1915, page 4:

REVOLVER TRAGEDY – An inquest was held on Friday on the body of William Henry Prior, aged 16, of Lowestoft, who was shot in the stomach on the previous Wednesday. – George Wilson Crooks, a skipper, said that the deceased and Arthur Hodson, another deck hand, where in the wheel-house, when witness heard the report of a revolver. He at once went to the spot, and saw deceased in a crouching position holding his stomach, and apparently in great pain. Witness sent for a doctor, who ordered his removal to the hospital. Hodson told him that he picked up a revolver from out of the case when it went off, the bullet entering the stomach of the deceased. Witness had no doubt the affair was quite an accident, as the crew were all best of terms. – George Simnet, the mate, said that he was in the wheelhouse helping the deceased and Hodson. They were on the best of terms. In reply to the Coroner, witness said that there was no skylarking going on previous to the accident. – Joseph Prior, father of the deceased, stated that he was satisfied that the affair was purely accidental. 

Arthur Hodson was warned by the Coroner, and elected to give evidence. He stated that he was in the wheel-house with the deceased at the time of the shooting affair. The deceased got hold of a rifle lying near by and said “How would you like one of these bullets into you?” Witness then took the revolver out of the case and remarked to the deceased, “How would you like one of these into you?” Before he knew what had happened the revolver went off, and the deceased exclaimed “You’ve shot me.” Witness went on to the deck at once, and the skipper sent for the doctor. In reply to the Foreman, Hodson stated that the deceased had the rifle in his hand when he was shot. 

Lieutenant-Surgeon Mallam deposed to seeing the deceased at 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday. The general condition of the deceased at that time was too bad for an operation. Death was due to gun shot wounds. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death from wounds caused by a revolver.”

William's brother Percival served in the Royal Navy and was killed in 1940 on H.M.S. Pelican.