William Mace Collins

A Deck Hand with HM Drifter Protect, William died on 16th of March 1917 at the age of 24. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 6 February 1893, a son of Arthur Josiah and Jane Collins. In 1901 his family lived at 15 Albert Street. By 1911 the family were living at 57 Beresford Road and William was a barman at a public house. 

On 21 April 1915 William married Alice May Barkaway at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. William was a furniture remover living at 57 Beresford Road, and Alice lived at 335 Raglan Street. Alice later remarried and lived at 17 Summer Road. 

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 May 1916. He served on the trawler Violet may before joining the trawler Protect. On 16 March 1917 the Protect was sailing in the Straits of Dover when it struck a mine and sank. Ten of the crew, including William, were killed and three survived.  

William’s name appears on the War Memorial at Saint Margaret’s Church.