Tags
Crete, Middle Row, Royal Navy, Second World War, Ss Peter and Paul Roman Catholic School, William Kerrigan
The son of John and Jane Kerrigan, William was born in Wolverhampton on 15 January 1907. In 1911, they were living at 1 Court, 2 Middle Row, Wolverhampton, along with William’s seven siblings – John, Kate E., Charles R., Lizzie M., Ellen, Doris and James P. In 1912, William started at Ss Peter and Paul Roman Catholic School. By 1939, the family were at 9 Middle Row, and the only children still living with them were John, William, and two who were born after the 1911 census, Dorothy and Kathleen. William was working as a tank tester at an electrical works.
William joined the Royal Navy (service number P/KX 119042) and served on the HMS Gloucester as a Stoker 2nd Class. Unfortunately he died on 22 May 1941 in Crete. The HMS Gloucester was sunk when the Royal Navy prevented German forces effecting a sea-borne landing on the island of Crete. William’s cause of death was officially recorded as “Missing – Death on War Service presumed”. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
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The research for this blog post was carried out by remote virtual volunteer, Ann Eales.
Wolverhampton's War 