William Walter Soanes

An Engineman with H.M. Drifter Launch Out. William died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 18. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 2 September 1898, a son of John and Emma Jane Soanes. In 1901 his family lived at Boardley’s Yard, 1 East Street, Lowestoft. By 1911 his family were living at 6 Spurgeons Score.

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 16 August 1915. On 17 August 1915 he joined the trawler Orthes as a Deck Hand. On 2 September 1915 he was promoted to Engineman and joined the trawler Launch Out.  

In 1916 the Launch Out was part of a fleet of trawlers that maintained the anti-submarine barrage across the Dover Strait. On the night of 26-27 October 1916 German destroyers attacked the barrage with the intent of causing maximum damage to the trawlers. 

The Launch Out was in the vicinity of the 9 A Buoy, at the southern end of the Sandettie Bank, when attacked. The trawler was sunk. Eight of the nine crew, including John, were killed and the other man later died of his wounds.   

For details of the attack on the Dover Barrage see: The German attack on the 'Dover Barrage' 26th/27th October 1916 (sussexhistoryforum.co.uk)