Ordinary Signalman William Fox
Ordinary Signalman William Fox
J/39564
HMS Vanguard
Age:18
Died: 09-Jul-17
Remembered: Little Dunham Memorial and Chatham Naval Memorial
Native of Sporle
J/39564
HMS Vanguard
Age:18
Died: 09-Jul-17
Remembered: Little Dunham Memorial and Chatham Naval Memorial
Native of Sporle
William was born on 28th May 1899 in Sporle, the son of James and Julia Fox. The census details state that they had 5 children, one of whom had died by 1911. In that year the family were living in Palgrave and William was still at school. Later the family moved to Necton Road, Little Dunham. The adult male members of the family worked on farms.
We do not have any information about when William enlisted or why he joined the Navy. He was still only 18 when the ship he was serving on, HMS Vanguard, exploded in Scapa Flow on 9th July 1917. 843 men were lost in that disaster, including William.
He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Written by Gordon Phillips
We do not have any information about when William enlisted or why he joined the Navy. He was still only 18 when the ship he was serving on, HMS Vanguard, exploded in Scapa Flow on 9th July 1917. 843 men were lost in that disaster, including William.
He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Written by Gordon Phillips