William Gates

A Deckhand with H.M. Trawler Boy Roy, William died on 13th of July 1918 at the age of 26. 

William was born at Great Yarmouth on 6 January 1892, a son of William and Mary Ann Gates. He was baptised at Saint Nicholas’ Church, Great Yarmouth, on 13 February 1901 and his family lived at number 16 Row 12, and his parents were still at that address in 1911. 

William was living at Great Yarmouth, and working as a fisherman, when he joined the Royal Horse Artillery, at Great Yarmouth, on 2 March 1909. He served with Z Battery in South Africa in 1910-1911 but returned to England in 1912 to be discharged as he was medically unfit for further service. 

William married Emma Ellen Smith in 1913: this was registered in the Mutford district. In 1915 William and Emma lived at 1 Spurgeon’s Score, Lowestoft. Later Emma lived at 13 Compass Street.  

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 16 March 1915. He served on the trawler Oak Apple until January 1917 when he joined the trawler Boy Roy. William was a navy signaller. 

William died from pneumonia.