Person

William Leonard Sutherland was born in Sunderland on 9 June 1898. His father was local police sergeant William Sutherland, born in 1868. His mother was Sarah Jane Sutherland born locally in 1866. His parents married around 1894 and are known to have had at least three sons and one daughter.

William junior joined the Royal Navy as a 16-year old on 19 November 1914. His service record reports he had been working as a blacksmith in civilian life. He was initially rated as a boy 2nd class and given the service number J33465. He became a boy 1st class on 2 April 1915 and an ordinary seaman on his eighteenth birthday. He was rated as an able seaman on 15 January 1917.

William took part in the Raid on Zeebrugge on the night of 23 April 1918. This action aimed to stop German U-boats leaving the port. He was serving on HMS Vindictive an ex-light cruiser used as an assault ship in the raid. He received wounds in the action from which he died. He was buried in Mere Knolls Cemetery, Sunderland.

William Leonard Sutherland was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Sunderland

Birth date: 09-Jun-1898

Death date: 23-Apr-1918

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 29 Warwick Street, Sunderland (1901 and 1911 census)

Employment: Blacksmith (1914 service record)

Family: Parents: William Sutherland (b 1868), Sarah Jane Sutherland (b 1866)
Siblings: Mabel Caroline Sutherland (b 1895), Wilford Percy Sutherland (b 1897), Frederick Charles Sutherland (b 1901)

Military service:

J33465
Royal Navy
Boy 2nd class, 19 November 1914
Boy 1st class, 2 April 1915
Ordinary seaman, 9 June 1916
Able seaman, 15 January 1917
HMS Vindictive

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Mere Knolls Cemetery, Sunderland

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham