William Henry's Story.
Weaver Navigation Minutes Volume 23, 1917-1918, Page 21 – the Engineer, J. A. Saner, reported that William Cookson, is reported as missing after the sinking of H.M.S. Mechanician. He was a naval Reservist and acted as deputy diver on the River until the outbreak of War. Page 59 – The Engineer reported that the death has now been officially presumed, he was a deputy diver, his widow and child will be entitled to the Admiralty pension at the end of the present month, when the Trustees War Relief allowance of 12/- per week will be discontinued. Page 98 – The Engineer Reported in his Annual Report on the 28th Nov. 1918, that Able Seaman William Cookson, B2690, Naval Reservist and formerly Assistant Diver, was reported missing after the sinking of H.M.S. Mechanician on January 20th last. His death was presumed and an Admiralty Pension awarded to his dependants as from July 25th when the Trustees allowance ceased.
The C.W.G.C. remember Leading Seaman William Henry Cookson, Service No SS/582, Royal Navy (RFR/DEV/B/2690) H.M.S. Mechanician. Date of Death 20th January 1918, aged of 31 PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL. Son of William and Ann Cookson of Northwich; husband of Millie Cookson of 23 Regent St. Moulton, Northwich, Cheshire.
Northwich Guardian 1st February 1918; MOULTON SAILOR’S FATE. OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF HIS DEATH.
An official communication has been received that Able-Seaman William Cookson has lost his life whilst on a ship which was recently reported by the Admiralty to have been sunk. Cookson, whose home is in Regent Street Moulton, leaves a widow and young child, for whom much sympathy is felt by the villagers. A fortnight ago he was at home on a short leave.
Able-Seaman, Cookson who was about 26 years of age, joined the Navy as a youth and when the war broke out he was a Naval Reservist and was in the employ of the Weaver Navigation Trustees as a diver. He was the first Moulton man to be called up for active service on the day following the declaration of war in August 1914. His widowed mother lives in Alan Street, Northwich.
HMS Mechanicican was a Royal Navy minesweeper that was torpedoed (German Sub., SM UB-35) and sunk on Sunday 20th January 1918, 8 nautical miles (15km) west of St. Catherine’s Point, Isle of Wight, in the English Channel.
National Archives Navy Records have a Registration Card for Cookson, William Henry, Official No SS582, they record is birth as 19th Feb. 1886, Northwich, the earliest date is 1904. His personal details, height 5ft 3.25in, Hair Light Brown, Eyes Brown and Complexion Fresh.
Cheshirebmd records a William H. Cookson born 1886, N/wich and the marriage of William Cookson/Millie Tomlinson in 1912 at St. Helen’s Witton, Northwich.
An W. H. Cookson is remembered on the Northwich Memorial, Northwich, St. Helens Church Memorial and Moulton Memorial
Research Bob Heaton