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| Casualty No.: |
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Ranks: |
Signalman |
Initials: |
W |
Service No.: |
P/JX 190653 |
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| Date of Birth : |
26/04/1915 |
Place of Birth : |
Addison Colliery, Co. Durham. |
Age at Death: |
27 |
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| Unit: |
HMS Tamar, Royal Navy. |
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| Place Enlisted: |
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| Place of Residence: |
Addison Colliery. Co. Durham. |
| Home Address: |
101 Cross Row, Addison Colliery, Co. Durham. |
| Previous Address: |
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| Civilian Employment: |
Worked at the Co-operative Stores, Blaydon on Tyne, Co Durham. |
| How Died: |
Lost at sea. |
| Date of Death: |
Friday 2nd October 1942 |
| Place of Death: |
China Sea |
| Battle/Campaign: |
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| Locally Commemorated: |
Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Stargate War Memorial, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Methodist Church, Shibdon Road, Blaydon on Tyne, Co. Durham.
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| UK Commemorated: |
Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Stargate War Memorial, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Methodist Church, Shibdon Road, Blaydon on Tyne, Co. Durham.
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| Overseas Commemorated: |
- |
| Buried: |
No known grave. |
| Decoration and Medals: |
1939-45 Star. Atlantic Star. Pacific Star. War Medal. |
| Photographs: |
1 |
| Service Records: |
No |
| Death Notice/Obituary: |
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| Family Details: |
1939-45 Star. Atlantic Star. Pacific Star. War Medal. |
| Notes : |
William was educated at Crookhill Council School and Blaydon Grammar School.
HMS Tamar was the Royal Naval Base at Hong Kong. A former troopship, she was scuttled to avoid her falling into the hands of the Japanese. William was taken prisoner along with thousands of servicemen and women after the fall of Hong Kong.
The Japanese were transporting prisoners of war on board the ship, Lisbon Maru, off Shanghai, China, when she was torpedoed by the American Submarine USS Grouper. The Japanese abandoned the ship leaving over 1,800 prisoners trapped in the holds of the ship. No attempt was made by the Japanese to carry out a rescue attempt, and so 825 prisoners of war lost their lives.
William's two uncles lost their lives during World War 1. David Marrs was killed in action whilst serving with the Coldstream Guards in September 1914. James Marrs, committed suicide whilst serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers, March, 1915.
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| Sources Used: |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register.
Information from family members.
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