Name
William Alfred Crowther
16 May 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/07/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Stoker 1st Class
K/27519
Royal Navy
H.M.S. Vanguard
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
23
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Letchworth memorials. Men of Stockwell WW1, Stockwell, London
Pre War
William Alfred Crowther was born on 16 May 1916 (baptised 8 Oct 1896) in Stockwell, London to William Crowther, coachman, and Eliza Elizabeth known as Matilda (nee Rule).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, William A, and George Edward (born 1900) were living at 8, Montague Mews, Bloomsbury, London.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, William A, George E, and Harold Arthur (born 1908) were living at 46 Chadworth Buildings, Lever Street, St Lukes, London.
Son of Mrs. M. Flowerdew (formerly Crowther), of 16, Birds Hill, Railway Side, Letchworth, Herts. Native of Clapham, London.
Wartime Service
William enlisted on 15 Jul 1915 in Royal Navy as Stoker K/21567. His initial training was at HMS Pembroke III (a shore Establishment). He was posted to HMS Vanguard 10 Oct 1915 as Stoker 2nd Class. Made Stoker First Class on 15 Jul 1916.
HMS Vanguard was laid down on 2 April 1908 and launched on 22 February 1909. She was the eighth ship to bear the name and was commissioned into the Royal Navy at Devonport on 1 March 1910.She served in the I Battle Squadron during 1914, then in IV Battle Squadron at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. The ship was involved in action throughout the battle, but did not suffer any damage or casualties. Beyond the Battle of Jutland the ship was involved in very little significant action. On 9 July 1917, Vanguard was anchored in Scapa Flow. At 11.20pm the entire ship was destroyed in an instant by an internal explosion. Neighbouring ships were showered with wreckage and human remains. Of the 845 Men on board there were only 3 survivors. William was one of the 845 who died that day, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
