WILLIAM ABBOTT AB. ROYAL NAVY: 224704 (Po)
HMS BLACK PRINCE
William was born in 1886, to George and Elizabeth Abbott. His mother came from Stinsford but the couple set up their married home in St Michaels Lane, Bridport. In 1890, when William was just 4, his mother died and his grandmother, another Elizabeth, moved into 3 Lily Terrace to help George bring up his young son.
George re-married – and he and his second wife Mary Martha (Samway) had a daughter, Lizzie (Elizabeth) who was born on 1893.
Both George and William worked in the rope and net industry but when he was seventeen, William left this employment and joined the Royal Navy. Like many new recruits William started his service at the shore establishment HMS Boscawen and he signed on for twelve years’ service in 1903.
His service record shows that he was of ‘good character’ and after serving on many vessels he joined the cruiser HMS Black Prince, in April 1914.
HMS Black Prince was an armoured cruiser, one of the 1st Cruiser Squadron deployed at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. Black Prince sailed several miles ahead of the Grand Fleet, acting as a screen for the main body of vessels, but during the early part of the engagement, she became separated from the rest of the force, and came into direct contact with the German High Seas Fleet. Powerful searchlights were turned on her and despite scoring two hits on the battleship Rheinland she took heavy fire from the guns of the battleship Thuringen. At least twelve heavy shells hit the vessel and she sank with the loss of all hands.
William was one of 858 men who lost their lives that day.
William has no known grave but is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.