William Davies

A Petty Officer Stoker with H.M.S. Goliath., William died on 13th of May 1915 at the age of 45. 

William was born at Tenby, Pembrokeshire, on 7 September 1870. William is believed to be a son of James and Rebecca Davies who lived at Culver Park, Tenby. 

William married Harriet John at Saint Mary's Church, Tenby, in 1898. In 1901 they lived at 17 Goshen Street, Devonport. By 1911 their home was at 15 Townsend Avenue, Plymouth. In 1921 Harriet, and children, lived at 5 Garden Street, Victoria Road, Lowestoft. At some point Harriet lived at 98 Saint Leonards Road, Kirkley.

William was working as a collier when he joined the Royal Navy on 26 May 1891, number 160757. William served on H.M.S. Fox in the Persian Gulf and was awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp 'Persian Gulf 1909-14'. He was discharged to a pension on 26 May 1913 and on 1 June 1913 he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve, number RFR/DEV/A/3835.

William was called out on 2 August 1914 and joined H.M.S. Prince George. On 17 August 1914 he was drafted to H.M.S. Goliath. On 25 April 1915 the Goliath provided fire support for the landings at Gallipoli. On the night of 12/13 May the Goliath, and H.M.S. Cornwallis, were moored at Morto Bay, off Cape Helles. The two ships had a protective screen of five destroyers. That night the Turkish torpedo-boat Muâvenet-i-Millîye sailed, undetected, into Morto Bay. At 1 a.m. the Goliath was sighted and the torpedo-boat detected. The Goliath sent a signal requesting that night's password, but the torpedo-boat had closed on the Goliath and fired three torpedoes. Each struck the Goliath and the ship capsized and sank with the loss of 570 crew, including William.   

See: The Sinking of HMS Goliath 13th May 1915 - dawlish chronicles

William is commemorated on the Tenby War Memorial.