Name

William McQuillan.

Description

Stoker 1st Class William McQuillan.

Life Story

Name: William McQuillan.

Service Number: SS/100594.

Rank: Stoker 1st Class.

Battalion: Hood Battalion, R.N Division.

Regiment: Royal Navy.

Born: 8th April 1877, Belfast.

Died: 4th June 1915.

Address: 39 Tenth Street, Belfast

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William McQuillan, son of Robert and Elizabeth McQuillan, lived with his wife and child at 39 Tenth Street, Shankill, Belfast

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The 1901 Ireland Census has William living at 46 Longford Street, Belfast with his mother, Head Of Family, four sisters, Jane, 21 years, occupation, Flax Rover, Mary E, 17 years, Flax Spinner, Maggie, 14 years, Agnes, 8 years, and brother Archibald, 11years. Williams occupation at this time is given as Labourer

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The 1911 Ireland Census has William living at 14 Tenth Street, Belfast with his wife, Sarah Ann, 32 years, and daughter Elizabeth, 1 year. His occupation now is given as Stoker, R.N.

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William had married Sarah Ann McQuillan, Nee Bell, on the 13th December 1906 within Saint Luke's Church of Ireland Church, Belfast. They went on to have daughter Elizabeth McQuillan on the 18th November 1909

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William joined the Royal Navy on the 29th January 1904 for 5 years plus 7 years Special Service at Chatham.

He served on a number of ships throughout his career, including the following: HMS Acheron, HMS Pembroke, HMS Irresistible, HMS Leander, HMS Blake, HMS Dido, until he transferred to Royal Fleet Reserves on the30th January 1909.

Called up on Reserve on the 3rd of August 1914, he then went into the Royal Naval Division's Hood Battalion on the 17th September 1914.

William was a Stoker 1st Class within Hood Battalion Royal Navy when he was Killed In Action at the Dardanelles on the 4th June 1915 aged 38 years

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Williams Naval Records show his as born in 1880, his birth certificate 1877

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A local newspaper states.

Stoker Wm McQuillan, Hood Battalion, 2nd Royal Naval Brigade, is reported wounded and missing, after being in action near the Dardanelles. Prior to being called up on the reserves McQuillan was employed by the Irish Flax Spinning Company. Mrs McQuillan resides at 39 Tenth Street, Belfast

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A second newspaper states.

Stoker WILLIAM MCQUILLAN, Royal Naval Brigade, reported wounded and missing on June 19. Any information will be thankfully received by his wife at 39 Tenth Street

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Another newspaper then reports.

Stoker McQuillan, Hood Battalion Royal Naval Division, who has been killed in action belonged to Belfast, his wife and child living at 39 Tenth Street, Belfast

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His Dependant Pension Application Form shows his widow as claimant for herself and child

Naval Pensions To Widows Of Men Whose Death Is Attributable To War like Operations Ledger shows his widow as claimant also. Disturbingly the following is wrote within the same ledger. The sum of 13.41, overpaid in respect of Separation Allowance and Allotment subsequent to the period of 30 weeks following the date on which the man was reported 'missing' has been recovered from the Pension to the 5th July 1916.

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William received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star.

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He is Remembered at Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.

To Remember Is To Honour

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