William Robert George Bye

An Engineman with H.M. Drifter Uberty. William died on 7th of May 1941 at the age of 42. 

William was born at Swaffham on 7 October 1898, a son of William and Rebecca Bye. He was baptised at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Swaffham, on 6 November 1898 and his family lived at Lynn Street, Swaffham. In 1901 his family lived at 90 Lynn Road, Swaffham, and they were still living at Lynn Road in 1911. 

On 1 October 1915 William joined the Royal Naval Reserve, number 344 SBC. He stated that his home address was 5 Harold Road, Lowestoft. On 7 October 1916 he was confirmed in the rate of Trimmer Cook and given service number 909 TC, and his address was 'near The Morning Star, Carlton Road, Lowestoft'. He became a Deck Hand, number 17090 DA, on 27 May 1917. Throughout the war he served with the trawler Tailor King. William was discharged on 26 May 1919.

On 27 December 1920 William married Eva Charlotte Mingay at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley. William was working as a fisherman and they both lived in Kirkley parish. In 1923 they lived at 4 Epsom Terrace, Kirkley Run, Lowestoft. By 1939 they were living at 60 Kirkley Run and William worked as a fisherman - 1st engineer. 

During World War Two William served as an Engineman (Chief Engineman in some sources) on the requisitioned trawler Uberty. The Uberty was bombed by German aircraft and sunk off Lowestoft Harbour and all thirteen of the crew were lost. 

NOTE: Several sources state that the Uberty was sunk on 8 May 1941, but Commonwealth War Graves states that twelve of the thirteen crew, including William, died on 7 May 1941.