William Gaul Storey

A Chief Petty Officer with H.M.S. Windemere. William died on 20th of April 1946 at the age of 34.

William was born on 9 September 1911, a son of Agnes Storey. William's father was William Gaul and Agnes was his 'unmarried wife' (evidence from 1911 Census and William Gaul's pension record card). William Gaul was killed in action in 1918 whilst serving with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. William lived with guardians at Great Yarmouth; first with Mrs. Roshier, at Regent Road, and then, in 1921, with the Thain family at 81 Churchill Road. 

William married Kathleen Mildred Coleman, at Lowestoft, in 1935. They lived at 12 A Ontario Road, Lowestoft.

On 11 January 1934 William joined the Royal Naval Reserve.

In 1934 William worked on the trawler 'Lavinia L', LT 1299. He worked on the 'Florence Barnard', LT 783, for a time in 1935 before rejoining the 'Lavinia L'. In 1937 he worked refitting yachts before joining the trawler 'Sussex County', LT 63, and then he joined the 'Rochester', Lt 153, and in 1938 he worked on the 'King Charles', LT 157. In 1939 he worked on the trawler 'Breas', LT 398.

William re-enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve during 1939 and was mobilized on 25 August 1939. He served with the Royal Naval Patrol Service. 

From August to November 1939 he served on the 'British'; from November 1939 to May 1941 on the 'Computator'. On 14 April 1940 he was awarded a 'hurt certificate'. In July 1941 William was awarded his certificate of competency and he was advanced to Second Hand in August 1941 and joined the 'Soranus'; in September 1941 he joined the 'Internos'.

William became a Second Hand (Chief Petty Officer) in July 1942 and joined the 'S.T.H.' before joining Motor Mine Sweeper 19 later in that month. In February 1943 he joined the 'Manx Beauty' and from September 1943 the 'Windermere'.

On 22 November 1944 William was assessed at the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, and found to be suffering from chronic catarrhal perceptive deafness and he was invalided from the service on 17 January 1945. also, in 1945, he was awarded the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service Medal.