William Reginald Bacon

A Skipper with Sailing Trawler 'Boy Percy', William died on 13th of May 1916 at the age of 53. 

William was born at Hasketon, Woodbridge, in 1862, a son of James and Mary Bacon. 

By 1881 William's mother had died and lodged, with his father and brother, 'near The Cliff, Corton', with Samuel and Susannah Freeman, his uncle and aunt. 

In late 1883 William married Martha Ellen Freeman at Corton. In 1891 they lived at Mill Lane, Corton, and Mill Lane was still their address in 1901. In 1911 their address was Browns Cottages, Mill Lane, Corton.

William was the Skipper of the trawler Boy Percy. On 13 May 1916 the sailing trawler Boy Percy, LT 90, sailed from Lowestoft for the fishing grounds. 

Jan Letten’s website, wrecksite.eu, suggests that the Boy Percy, along with the trawler Boy Sam, were scuttled off Southwold on 17 May 1916. This seems to be based on a report from the German Navy which indicates that the Boy Percy was stopped by submarine UB-29, the crew forced to take to lifeboats and the trawler sunk. 

The Boy Percy had been due back at Lowestoft on 21/22 May and whatever actually happened none of the crew were seen again.  

William's son-in-law, Lancelot Freeman, was also lost with the Boy Percy.