William Muir (1892-1916)
Coal miner from Hartlepool served in the Royal Naval Reserve and was fatally injured at the Battle of Jutland
William Muir was born on 18 November 1892. His mother was Frances Muir nee Musgrove (1855-1938) who was born and lived all her life in Hartlepool. At the time of the 1901 census William lived with his widowed mother, four brothers and three sisters in 51 Charlotte Street, Hartlepool. His family lived at the same address at the 1911 census. William attended Lister Street School before finding employment as a putter in a local coal mine.
William was Stoker 2538(S) in the Royal Naval Reserve and served onboard HMS Lion during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. Lion was the flagship of the Grand Fleet’s battlecruisers. HMS Lion was very active in the battle and was hit by shells a total of fourteen times suffering 99 dead and 51 wounded during the battle. William sustained injuries to his left leg, left upper arm and a fractured skull. He was transferred to the hospital ship HMHS Plessey where he died of his injuries on 3 June 1916.
After the Battle of Jutland HMS Lion and a number of other ships put into port at Rosyth, Scotland. William is buried in the Dalmeny Parish Cemetery, South Queensferry, Linlithgowshire. He is also remembered in Hartlepool on the harbour light memorial, a plaque at All Saints Church, Stranton, the obelisk in Victory Square, a plaque at Lister Street School and in the Hartlepool Book of Remembrance.
William Muir was awarded the Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: Hartlepool
Birth date: 18-Nov-1892
Death date: 03-Jun-1916
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 51 Charlotte Street, Hartlepool (1901 and 1911 census)
Education: Lister Street School, Hartlepool
Employment: Coal miner, putter (1911 census)
Family: Parents: Frances Muir nee Musgrove (1855-1938)
Siblings: Clara Ann (1870), Matthew (1873), James (1883), Emma (1885), Harry (1887), John G (1889), Margaret (1892), Lily I (1896)
Military service:
S2538
Stoker
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Lion
Medal(s): Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Buried in Dalmeny Parish Cemetery, South Queensferry, Linlithgowshire, Scotland
Book of Remembrance Fallen 1914-18, Hartlepool
Harbour Light, Hartlepool
Plaque, All Saints Church, Hartlepool
Plaque, Lister Street School, Stranton, Hartlepool
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
