William is buried in a family grave.
My dear husband WILLIAM W. COLBY who was killed on H.M.S. Bracklyn May 11th. 1917, aged 32 years.
COLBY, WILLIAM WALTER
Rank:……………………….....Deck Hand
Service No:…………………6207/DA
Date of Death:……………11/05/1917
Age:…………………………....32
Service:……………………....Royal Naval Reserve
…………………………….........H.M. Trawler "Bracklyn."
Grave Reference:……….13. 397.
Cemetery:
LOWESTOFT (BECCLES ROAD) CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Husband of Dorothy May Martin (formerly Colby), of 8, Coastguard Cottages, Battery Green, Lowestoft.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/397562/COLBY,%20WILLI...
The WW1 Naval casualties database records Deck Hand 6207.D.A.(CH.) William Colby as Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action on the 11th May 1917 whilst serving aboard H M Trawler “Bracklyn”. He was born Lowestoft on the 4th June 1885. The next of kin notified of his death was his wife, Dorothy M., of 57 Trafalgar Street, Lowestoft.
The Naval Reservist Service Records for DA 6207 William Colby, born Lowestoft 4th June 1885, are held at the National Archive under reference BT 377/7/52679
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8513735
(There is no match for a Coleby).
This man is also probably remembered on the War Memorial in Lowestoft St John but as Coleby.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Suffolk/LowestoftStJohnsChurch.html
(There is no matches for a W Coleby on CWGC or SDGW)
4th June 1885 – Birth???
Source – WW1 Naval Casualties and National Archive Catalogue entry for his service records.
(Note this does not quite tie up with his reported age of 32 on the date of his death. He either would have been a few weeks short of his 32nd birthday if the correct birthdate has been recorded, or he was born earlier if the correct age is recorded.
The birth of a William Walter Colby was registered in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), 1884. Then, as now, you had 42 days to register the birth with the civil authorities, so potentially William could have been born as early as mid- May 1884. I suspect its more likely he was born on the 4th June 1884.
1891 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The 6 year old William Colby, born Lowestoft, was recorded living at 28 Jacob’s Street, Lowestoft. This was the household of his parents Arthur, (aged 28 and a Shipwright, born Lowestoft), and Alice, (aged 28, born Stockton, Norfolk). As well as William their other children living with them are:-
Beatrice…….aged 4…..born Lowestoft
Agnes………aged 2…..born Lowestoft
Daisy……..aged 6 months..born Lowestoft
1901 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The 17 year old “Wm” Colby, ships cook, was recorded aboard a fishing vessel, (possibly “Winter” or “United” or something similar), which was tied up at Lowestoft on the night of the census.
His parents were recorded living at 58 Stanford Street, Lowestoft. As well as parents Arthur, (38, Shipwright) and Alice, (38), children still single and living at home are Agnes, (13, Chocolate Factory Hand), Daisy, (10), Arthur, (6), Alice, (5) and Victoria, (3). All the children were born Lowestoft.
The most likely match for his future wife was a 5 year old Dorothy M. Hook, born Lowestoft, who was recorded living at 10, Fir Lane, Lowestoft. This was the household of her parents Robert, (28, Labourer on Ship Yard, born Lowestoft) and Harriet A., (27, born Lowestoft). Dorothy has 4 siblings.
1911 Census of England and Wales
There does not appear to be a match for William on this census – but given his occupation he could well have been at sea, outside British Territorial waters and so not counted.
His father, Arthur, (48, Shipwright), is one of a group of men who have come from Lowestoft and Oulton Broad to work in the Shipyards at Barrow-in-Furness. They are recorded boarding at 74 Church Street, Barrow-in-Furness.
His mother Alice, (47, born Stockton, Norfolk), records herself as the Wife of the Head of the Household at 98 Haward Street, Lowestoft. She states she has been married 16 years, (which doesn’t agree with the previous census information), and has had 11 children, all then still alive. Still single and living at home are Alice, (15, Domestic Servant), Victoria, (13), Sidney, (8), Walter, (8), May, (6) and Dorothy, (9 months) – all born Lowestoft.
Dorothy May Hook, 15, was still living with her parents, although they had now moved to 5 Kent Road, Lowestoft.
1916 – Marriage
The marriage of a William Colby to a Dorothy M Hook was recorded in the Mutford District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1916.
Post August 1911 it had become compulsory when registering the birth of a child with the Civil Authorities in England and Wales to also record the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Births for England and Wales produces only one match for a child registered with the surname Colby, mothers maiden name Hook, and that child is likely to be a daughter of William and Dorothy. A Dorothy J Colby was registered in the District of Mutford in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1917.
On the day
A mine laid by SMS UC-1 off Yarmouth, England was located on May 11, 1917 by the minesweeper trawler HMS Bracklyn. Unfortunately she found the mine the old fashion way, by hitting it. The former fishing trawler sank taking eleven of her crew with her.
www.maritimequest.com/daily_event_archive/2012/05_may/11_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_May_1917
Friday, 11 May 1917
Bracklyn, hired trawler, minesweeper, mined and sunk in North Sea
ADAMSON, Magnus, Trimmer, RNR, TS 2847
ALDEN, John T, Trimmer, RNR, TS 3874
BAILEY, Robert, 2nd Hand, RNR, SA 1424
COLBY, William, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 6207
MCCOURT, William F, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 14090
MITCHINSON, Robert W, Engineman, RNR, ES 870
RADMORE, Archibald M, Ty/Skipper, RNR
RUDD, Arthur E L, Lieutenant, RNR
SAUNDERS, John N, Engineman, RNR, ES 3664
STACE, Percy M, Trimmer Cook, RNR, TC 743
www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1917-05May.htm
Bracklyn had previously been FY667 in the Port of Yarmouth Registry.
wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?145230
History
22.4.1914: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.401) for The Brooklyn Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as BRACKLYN.
5.1914: Completed (Richard W. Mason, manager).
28.5.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD2).
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Ad.No.667).
28.3.1916: Bad weather, with other vessels ran ashore on Corton Beach, Gt. Yarmouth. Weather eased and towed off by tug LOWESTOFT (172grt/1898) assisted by Lowestoft lifeboat KENTWELL (Cox George Ayres).
1917: Thomas Cardwell appointed manager.
11.5.1917: Mined off Great Yarmouth.
21.5.1917: Fleetwood registry closed.
(MPK – Lieut Arthur E.L. Rudd; Ty/Sk. Archibald Radmore; Robert Bailey, 2nd Hand: John N. Saunders & Robert W. Mitchinson, Enginemen; William Colby, deck hand; Magnus Adamson & John T. Alden, trimmers; Percy M. Stace, trimmer/cook.)
Notes On 28 March 1916 two sailing ships, two steamers and the minesweeper BRACKLYN went on Corton Beach, off Great Yarmouth, in bad weather. The Lowestoft lifeboat, KENTWELL, was launched but the weather was so bad that no crews could be found and it is doubtful if they could have been taken off because of the weather.
When the weather eased the KENTWELL was towed down to one of the schooners. When they arrived they found that the coastguards with their rocket apparatus had rescued all the crews with the exception of that from the ship nearest Hopton. The Gorleston lifeboat, MARK LANE, had got them. When they returned, George Ayers the 2nd Coxswain who was in charge, was asked to go out to the minesweeper. They went out and helped the tug LOWESTOFT to get her off the beach. Later in the year an award of £40 for salvage was received.
Having survived this it seems ironic that BRACKLYN was subsequently lost to a mine.
www.fleetwood-trawlers.info/index.php/2012/05/s-t-brackly...
Postscript
The marriage of a Dorothy M Colby to a Samuel J Martin was recorded in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1919.
