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William Ferguson

An Able Seaman with H.M.S. P.32, William died on 10th of June 1917 at the age of 20.

William was born at Fulham, London, on 26 November 1896, a son of James and Lucy Ferguson. He was baptised at Saint Andrew’s Church, West Kensington, on 16 December 1896, and his family lived at 57 Brecon Road, Hammersmith, and this was his family’s home until at least 1911, when William worked as a G.P.O. telegraph messenger. 

In 1917 William married Margaret Leah Pether: this registered on the Mutford district. Margaret lived at 74 High Street, Lowestoft, then 12 Sparhams Buildings, Saint Peter’s Street, before living at 10 Sparhams Buildings. In 1918 she married Thomas Hubble.  

William was a baker’s boy when he joined the Royal Navy, as a Boy 2nd Class, on 12 August 1912, service number J/19681. From 7 April 1914 to 23 September 1915 he served on H.M.S. Monarch. On 1 April 1916 he joined the ‘P Class’ patrol boat P.32. 

William was accidentally drowned on 10 June 1917. The Lowestoft Journal, 16 June 1917, page 3, gives details of his inquest.

BOATING DISASTER AT LOWESTOFT

Naval Men Drowned

The Deputy Coroner, Mr. Goatlee, held and inquest at Lowestoft Police Court, on Wednesday afternoon, as to the circumstances attending to the death of William Ferguson, able seaman, aged 20, who lived at 12 Sparham’s Buildings, Lowestoft, and who was drowned on Sunday afternoon just outside the Harbour mouth. Deceased and a petty officer took a ship’s skiff, to go for sail. Outside the Harbour the boat capsized and both were drowned. Ferguson’s body was picked up on the North Beach on Monday morning. The body of the Petty Officer has not been recovered.
Charles Alfred Lee, an A.B., identified the body.   
Sub-Lieut. Raymond, R.N., said that on Sunday, about 2.15 p.m., the deceased left his ship, in company with Petty Officer Isted, to go sailing for pleasure in a ship’s skiff. Petty Officer Isted was in charge, and was given orders by him not to go outside the Harbour. About 3 p.m. he was informed that the skiff had capsized outside the Harbour. He went on deck at once, and in his opinion the sea was too rough to hoist out the Berthon boats to send to their assistance. The boat, when he saw it at last, was suitably rigged for sailing in a sheltered Harbour. She had oars and crotches in her, and if she got into difficulties the sail could be lowered and her oars used. The deceased and Petty Officer Isted by going outside the Harbour were going against orders. Several boats were at once sent out in search, but no trace of the bodies could be found. 
In answer to a juryman, witness said the boat was 13ft. 6in. long, with a false keel weighing 25 lbs.
Alfred John Mattell, a gunner, said he heard orders given by the last witness to Isted not to go outside the Harbour. When deceased and Isted left the ship witness’ last words to them were: “Be careful, and don’t go outside the Harbour.” Isted told me he was going round the Herring Basin. Witness saw the skiff off the ship, and Isted appeared to be handling the boat in an efficient manner. About 3.40 p.m. he received the skiff from the tug Despatch, and had her righted alongside the ship. The only equipment missing were the horse, crotch, and oars, tiller and stern sheet bottom board. The boat itself was undamaged. The yoke was under the stern sheets. The false keel was still on the boat.
George Rooch, mate of the G.E.R. tug Imperial, Lowestoft, said that on Sunday afternoon he was on duty on his vessel in the Yacht Basin, when he saw two sailors in a small dingey sailing about in the Outer Harbour. About 3 p.m. he saw the boat leave the Harbour, and when about 200 or 300 yards outside he saw then try to turn the boat before the wind. He saw the jib-sheet slacken off, the main sheet remained tight, and almost in an instant the boat capsized. The men were sitting quite still and he watched them from the time they left the Harbour till the accident. He immediately informed the crew of the tug Despatch, which went out and was on the scene within about three minutes. He also saw a naval moto boat go out. In his opinion if the main-sheet had gone out all right the accident would not have happened. The sea was very choppy at the time.
Thomas Chamberlain, a Corporation labourer, said he was on the North Beach, Lowestoft, about 10.35 a.m. on Monday, when just south of the Low Light he saw the body of a man floating in the surf about 10 or 12 feet from low water. He pulled the body ashore and informed the police.
Inspector Peck said he received the body from Chamberlain, and found upon it a silver watch and chain and 7 and half pence in money. The watch had stopped at 2.55 p.m.
The Coroner said the men had orders not to go out to sea but they did so, and the boat capsized. The boat was fit to sail in the Harbour, but not at sea, and they went out in disobedience of orders.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death from drowning.”

A Royal Navy inquiry concluded that William was drowned accidentally and that no blame should be attached to anyone other than Petty Officer Isted. The Petty Officer’s body was later recovered.  

Lived at

William Ferguson
10 Sparhams Buildings
St Peters Street
Lowestoft
United Kingdom

52.482842782552, 1.7483816134918

CountryOfService
United Kingdom
BranchService
Naval
Regiment
Royal Navy
ServiceNumber
J/19681(PO)
Burial/Memorial
United Kingdom
LOWESTOFT (NORMANSTON DRIVE) CEMETERY
13. 396.

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