William John Henry Cleverley

Memorial: Kingswood - Holy Trinity Church

Regiment: Royal Navy

Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Leading Stoker 310730

Parents: William and Mary Elizabeth Cleverley (nee Mackay)

Marital status: Married

Home address: Pettigrove Road, Woodstock, Kingswood, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Sailor

Date of birth: 27/07/1888

Place of birth: Fishponds, Bristol

Date of death: 31/05/1916

Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea and commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Kingswood Memorial

Age: 26

Further information:

William was born in Fishponds and had a younger brother and sister. His grandfather was a well-known Kingswood architect and his father served 25 years in the Navy, dying whilst still serving as a Coast Guardsman.
William joined the Navy in 1906 and served on the “Pathfinder”, the “Bulwark” and the “Triumph” before being drafted to the HMS “Queen Mary”. He married Miriam Willmott whilst home on leave, 3 months before his death.

William died during the Battle of Jutland Bank, the largest Naval battle of WW1 which took place off the coast of Denmark. At 4.26 on 31st May 1916 after fierce exchanges of fire with the attacking German ships, a plunging salvo of fire crashed upon the forward deck of the Queen Mary and a massive explosion rent her amidships. Her bows plunged downwards and her propellers were seen to be slowly revolving high in the air. In another moment there was nothing of her left but a dark pillar of smoke rising hundreds of feet into the sky. In total 57 officers and 1,209 men including William were killed. There were 8 survivors.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/jutland/hms_queen_mary_casualty_list_1916.htm
Kingswood Heritage Museum