William Herbert Cook Newrick

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Jeannie Murray, William died on 15th of February 1918 at the age of 18. 

William was born at Oulton Broad on 8 June 1899, a son of Ruth Newrick. He was baptised at Saint Mark’s Church, Oulton Broad, on 17 September 1899. In 1901 William lived with his grandmother Griselda at South Elmham Terrace, Carlton Colville. In late 1899 William’s mother married George Jolly and by 1911 the family were living at 3 Sycamore Avenue, Oulton Broad. In 1918 their home was at 52 Camole Cottage (sic), Oulton Broad, and later William’s mother lived at The Bungalow, School Road, Oulton Broad.

William joined the Roya Naval Reserve on 5 March 1915, service number SB 51, and served on the trawler Reward. On 25 June 1915 he joined the Jeannie Murray. William changed his service rate, on 8 June 1917, and was renumbered as DA 16437. 

William was serving on the Jeannie Murray and was killed in an event known by some as the ‘Massacre of the Drifters’. Captain Taprell-Dorling, in his book Swept Channels described the event:

"On the night of 14-15 February 1918, an enemy submarine was reported in the minefield [off Dover] by the drifters, and heavy firing began. The "P" boats, monitors and destroyers on patrol concluded that the firing was at the submarine. They were unaware that a flotilla of German destroyers had steamed through the patrol and were attacking the paddle minesweepers, trawlers and drifters who were burning lights to assist in illuminating the minefield.

The trawler James Pond, commanded by Chief Skipper A.E. Berry, D.S.C., R.N.R., was burning her flares near the French coast when he saw three destroyers approaching from the eastward at high speed. Flashing past at very close range, they each fired salvoes. It was impossible to miss. The raiders disappeared into the darkness, to leave the trawler damaged and blazing.

The enemy destroyers had not finished. After passing the James Pond they turned sharply to the north-north-west along the line of drifters, firing salvoes into them as they steamed by. These little ships did not hesitate to return the fire with the tiny guns they possessed; but 3 and 6 pounders were nothing of a match for the 4.1's of the enemy. The Christina Craig, Clover Bank, Cosmos. Jeannie Murray, Silver Queen, Veracity and W Elliott, all between 60 and 96 tons, were sunk one after the other. Still more were damaged."

William’s body was recovered and he was buried at Saint Peter’s Churchyard, Carlton Colville, on 21 February 1918. 

William's uncle Frank, a fisherman, died in the loss of the trawler Will and Maggie in 1914.