William Hart

A Second Hand with Fishing Vessel S.D.J. (Lowestoft), William died on 11th of May 1947 at the age of 54. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 29 January 1892, a son of Robert and Isabella Hart. In 1901 his family lived at 18 Jacob’s Street, and by 1911 they were living at 1 Mill Cottages, Mill Road. 

William was awarded his certificate of competency as a second hand on 29 June 1915, and his certificate of competency as a skipper on 9 June 1920. 

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 12 July 1915, service number S A 2116, and served with the trawler Placeo. He was demobilised and discharged on 13 March 1919. 

On 27 December 1915 William married Alice Eliza Gowing at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. The register shows their address as 30 Church Road. In 1921 they lived at 17 Park Road and William was a fisherman, out of work, who usually worked for Lowestoft Water and Gas Company. They were still living at 17 Park Road in 1939, and William was a fisherman, and 17 Park Road was still the family home in 1947.

In 1947 William was the Second Hand on the trawler S.D.J., LT 1187. In May the trawler was fishing in the North Sea and was lost at some point during the night of 11-12 May. The trawler was reported missing, and debris was later found, and it was presumed the trawler had struck a mine and sank. All nine crew were lost.  

William’s brother, Robert, died in 1917 in the loss of the trawler Willing Boys. William’s brother-in-law, Thomas Gowing, served with The Queen’s regiment and died in 1916. His son William died in 1942 while serving with the Royal Air Force.