LEADING STOKER WILLIAM JOHN LEE: 286431 (PO) ROYAL NAVY
HMS Queen Mary
William was the third of five children born to Thomas and Emily Lee. He had two older sisters, Sarah and Mary and two younger brothers, Henry and Ernest.
His father worked as a flax dresser and several members of the family were also employed in the rope and net industry. At 16, William was a flax dresser like his father and lived with the family at 35 St Michaels Lane.
In 1894, William married Emily Ann White at a ceremony in Loders and in 1895 their first child, William was born. William was followed by Agnes May (known as May) and Phyllis Elsie (known as Elsie).
During this period, William left his job in the rope industry and in November 1897, signed on for twelve years’ service in the Royal Navy.
The family moved from Bridport to Portsmouth and the 1901 census records them living at 56 Albert Road with Thomas employed as a ‘Stoker, RN.’
He served on many vessels and in August 1911 he was promoted to Leading Stoker. In September 1913 he was on board HMS Queen Mary – the last great battlecruiser to be built for the Navy – and he was serving on this ship when war was declared in 1914.
The Queen Mary was one of the ships in the Royal Navy Grand Fleet which took part in the Battle of Jutland on May 31st, 1916 – the largest naval battle of WW1.
During the early part of the battle, Queen Mary was hit twice by fire from the German battle-cruiser Derfflinger and her forward magazine exploded, breaking the ship in two.
Of the crew, only twenty survived the explosion and William, deep down in the engine rooms of the great ship, had no chance. He was one of 1269 sailors who lost their lives on that ship.
William is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.