William Lamb
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was the son of William and Mary (Polly) Ann Lamb. According to the information provided by William on the 1911 Census, he and Mary Ann had been married for 17 years and had had nine children of whom only eight had survived. Eight children were named on the Census between 1901 and 1911: William b. 1 May 1894), Alfred, Florence, Clara E, Thomas, Harold, Bingley and George. All members of the family were born in Nottingham. In 1901 William, a joiner, and Mary Ann, a lace dresser, were living at 10 Thorsby Street, Nottingham, with their four children, William (6), Alfred (5), Florence (3) and Clara (1). By 1911 the family was living at 6 Mugglestone Yard, Alfreton Road: William (36), now a general labourer, Mary Ann (36), William an apprentice joiner, Alfred an apprentice gardener, Florence, Clara, Thomas (8), Harold (7), Bingley (4) and George (1). William joined the Royal Navy the following year on 3 January 1912 when he was 17 and his younger brother Alfred followed him into the Royal Navy on 12 January 1913, also at the age of 17. Alfred signed on for 12 years on his 18th birthday, 31 December 1913. Like his brother, he was also working as a blind maker before joining the Navy. William married Rhoda Butler (b. abt. 1894) in 1916 (O/N/D Nottingham). According to the notice of his death in the local paper they had one child, possibly Gladys J [Jutland], birth registered 1917 (J/F/M). At the time of William's death his wife and child were living at 10 Leonard Terrace, Denman Street, Radford, Nottingham. Rhoda Lamb married Leonard Wyer in 1921 and the CWGC record, which was compiled after her remarriage, gave her address as 59 Bloomsgrove Street, Nottingham. In 1939 she and Leonard were living on Andover Street, Nottingham; the records of four other members of the household remain closed. Rhoda died in 1956. His brother Alfred served at the Battle of Jutland in HMS Neptune and left the Navy on 30 December 1925, the day before his 30th birthday, having completed his 12 year engagement.
William joined the Royal Navy on 3 January 1912 when he was 17 years old and on his 18th birthday the following May entered on a 12 year continuous service engagement. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Ganges, 3 January 1912-3 June 1912 (Boy 2nd Class); HMS Prince George, 23 March 1912-3 June 1912 (Boy 1st Class, 3 April 1912); HMS Carnarvon, 4 June 1912-30 July 1912 (Ordinary Seaman, 3 July 1912); Victory I, 31 July 1912-17 August 1912; HMS Latona, 18 August 1912-12 February 1913; Victory I, 13 February 1913-15 February 1913; HMS Grafton, 16 February 1913-8 April 1913; HMS Dido, 9 April 1913-23 May 1913; HMS Duncan, 24 May 1913-7 March 1914; HMS Hindustan, 8 March 1914-14 May 1915 (Able Seaman, 15 June 1914); HMS Excellent, 15 May 1915-18 August 1914; HMS Barham, 19 August 1915-31 August 1918 (Leading Seaman, 1 May 1918). Service document annotated: ‘NP 93441/18. DD [Discharged Dead] August 1918, accident’ and ‘NL41517/18 report of CofE [Court of Enquiry] as to death of this rating who was accidently killed on board on 31 August 1918.’ William died on 31 August 1918 in an accident involving an aircraft while serving onboard HMS Barham. He was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery (SSD Allotment 3.03284) and is commemorated on the Screen Wall. HMS Barham was a Queen Elizabeth-class battlecruiser which was part of the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. For the remainder of the war she was largely engaged on routine patrols and training in the North Sea. In 1918 the ship was fitted with flying-off platforms from which aircraft could be launched.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour', 4 September 1918: ‘Lamb. On the 30th August, accidentally killed by aeroplane, William Lamb. If we could have raised his dying head, and heard his last farewell, the parting would not have been half so hard, for those who loved him best. His sorrowing wife, child, parents, brothers and sisters.’ (britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) 'In memoriam' published 30th August 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post : - “LAMB. – In loving memory of William Lamb, accidentally killed by aeroplane, August 31st, 1918, on his Majesty's Ship Barham. He left his home so bright and happy, we little thought his end so near, and no one knows but our sad hearts the loss of one we loved so dear. – From his sorrowing wife and child, also Mr. and Mrs. Butler and family.” (Courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.)
