William Thomas Weir
Memorial: Thornbury & District Museum: 6th Maritime Regiment Memorial
Regiment: 6th Maritime Regiment
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Gunner
Parents: William Thomas and Ellen Weir
Home address: 273 Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey
Pre-war occupation: Gardener
Date of birth: 25/03/1920
Place of birth: Marylebone, London
Date of death: 31/10/1941
Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea and commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial and the Maritime Memorial Thornbury
Age: 21
Further information:
The son of a sewing machine repairer, William was born in Marylebone London and subsequently moved to Surrey.
On the day of his death, it is likely that William was serving aboard the British Steam Tanker ‘British Fortune’ which was on route from the Thames to Hull when it was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 1 nautical mile off Aldeburgh, Suffolk by Luftwaffe aircraft. Eight people including William lost their lives.
William was originally reported as missing which was changed to killed in action 4 months later.
William died on 31st October 1941 (not 8/12/41 as on Memorial).
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.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?59445