William Frank Mingay

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Ocean Fisher, William died on 16th of June 1918.

William was born at Oulton Broad on 6 July 1897, a son of William and Katherine Mingay. He was baptised at Saint Mark’s Church, Oulton Broad, on 9 September 1897. In 1901 his family lived at South Elmham Terrace, and by 1911 they were living at 83 Kimberley Road. In 1915 William lived at 28 Lorne Road, Kirkley. 

On 6 September 1917 William married Millie Maud Hartry at Saint Peter’s church, Kirkley. The marriage register states that William was a fisherman and that both William and Millie lived at Kirkley. Later Millie lived at 38 Lovewell Road, Kirkley.

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 22 December 1915. William served with the drifter Ocean Fisher. On 19 January 1918 he qualified as a hydrophone listener. On 16 June 1918 the Ocean Fisher was on minesweeping operations off the Haddock Bank in the North Sea. The drifter brought up a mine in the trawl. The mine exploded, sinking the vessel, with the loss of all nine crew including William.