William Garwood Cleveland

A Chief Skipper with H.M. Trawler Myrtle, William died on 14 June 1940, aged 46.

William was born at Lowestoft on 25 April 1894, a son of James and Mary Cleveland. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church on 25 May 1894 and his family lived at 7 Wollaston Road. In 1901 his family lived at Laundry Lane. By 1911 his father had died, and his family lived at 4 Strand Street. Later they lived at 3 Spurgeon Street. By the 1950s William’s mother lived at 273 Saint Peter’s Street. 

In 1918 William married Ellen Rae, this was registered in the Woodbridge district. For a time, they lived at Stamshaw Street, Portsmouth. By 1921 they were living with William’s mother at 273 Raglan Street, Lowestoft. In early 1939 William, Ellen and their daughter, lived at Portsmouth and Ellen died. William then moved to Grimsby and lived at 6 Nacton Street, Grimsby. William married Doris M. Robinson, at Grimsby, just three weeks before his death. 

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 12 August 1914, service number A 5908, and initially he served as a Seaman with the Royal Naval Division. In November 1914 he was posted to the trawler section and served with the Otway. In 1916 he was awarded his certificate of competency as a Second Hand and in early 1917 he was advanced to the rank of Second Hand. In April 1917 he joined the trawler Maria. In 1918 William was awarded his certificate of competency as a Skipper and on 26 April 1918 he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Skipper, service number WSA 2274. On 8 May 1918 William joined the trawler Shooting Star and, on 20 March 1919, the Gunner. He was demobilised on 16 February 1920, but soon re-enrolled.

In his civilian life William worked on the trawler Victoria LT 1056 in 1920. In 1922 he was the Second Hand with the Dalby, BN 61, and then joined the Banby, BN 165. In 1923 he was the Mate with the Marjorie Grace, LT 491, before joining the Emblem, LT 755. He was the Skipper of the Boy Charlie, LT 1067, from 1924. In 1926 he served with LT 285. During 1927 William worked on the Cineraria (sic), the Hurn (sic), and then the trawler I.F.S. Then he joined the 1928 Obern (sic).

By 1935 William had been promoted to Chief Skipper with the Royal Naval Reserve and he was awarded the Royal Naval Reserve Officer’s Decoration (the Reserve Decoration). 

William was called out for service at the start of World War Two and he took command of the trawler Myrtle which was being used as a minesweeper. On 22 November 1939 the Myrtle rescued survivors from S.S. Lowland which had been mined off Clacton on Sea. On 14 June 1940 the Myrtle was in the Thames Estuary and the crew attempted to take a magnetic mine on board when the mine exploded killing all of the crew. 

William was Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette 11 July 1940, for his service in minesweeping duties. 
William’s brother, George, served with the Mercantile Marine and died in 1915.

With thanks to Andy Pearce