STALLARD William

Additional information on the memorial: A.B. HMS Aboukir

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for navy casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.

Shrawley Parish Magazine, November 1914:
We all sympathise with Mr & Mrs Stallard in the loss of their son, W. H Stallard, A.B., who was on board HMS Aboukir when she was sunk on September 22nd. The existence of submarines has altogether changed the nature of naval war. The three cruisers were sunk by an unseen enemy, with hardly a chance of striking a blow. There was none of the excitement or glory of a naval engagement. Yet they gave their lives for their country. They died doing their duty, and we honour them for it.

Appears on the Roll of Honour in Shrawley Parish Magazine, January 1915:
Killed in Action.

HMS Aboukir was a Cressy Class armoured cruiser. The ship was on patrol in the North Sea off the Dutch coast along with three other cruisers when they were spotted by the German submarine U9. At around 06.25 on the morning of 22nd September 1914, U9 fired a single torpedo at HMS Aboukir which struck the port side of the ship causing heavy flooding and loss of engine power. Half an hour after being attacked the ship rolled over and sank resulting in the loss of 527 men.

William Stallard has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Chatham Naval Memorial.