William's Story.
Born in Dalry, Ayrshire.
He married Hetty Elizabeth Shaw on the 8th April 1909 in Glasgow.
Some time during the 1930s, unable to find work in UK, William found work with the Dominion Shipping Company of Montreal.
At the time of his death, he was chief engineer on the SS Rose Castle, shipping iron ore from Bell Island, Newfoundland to the smelting works in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
She was sunk by U-518, commanded at the time by Friedrich Wilhelm Wissmann (1915 – 1963) at just after 7.00am having been hit by 2 torpedoes whilst at anchor in Conception Bay, Bell Island, Newfoundland. She sank in less than 20 minutes, her holds filled with iron ore. 23 crew were lost, 20, including the master were saved.
There is a memorial to the tragedy in Lance Cove on Bell Island.
U-518 was later sunk by a US destroyer on 22/04/45 off the Azores.
Hetty Elizabeth appears in the 1939 register living at 209 Wallasey Road, Wallasey.
The Cheshire Roll of Honour would like to thank Donald Henderson, William's grandson for the picture and information.