His son has submitted the following:
William Craven, born 4th October 1917, was the Great Great Great Grandson of Jasper Craven (1742) born Shipley, Bradford, Yorkshire.
He was Great Great Grandson of David Craven (1781) born Heaton, Yorkshire and Mary nee Dale (1751) born Bingley.
Great Grandson of Harriet Craven (1808) born Shipley and father Timothy Carling of David Craven out of marriage
His grandparents David Craven (1836) of Shipley and Margaret nee Hordon (1836) of Coundon Bishop Auckland Co Durham
His parents were John Craven (1861) born Coundon, Bishop Auckland, and Leonora nee Knags (1869) born Whitby, Yorkshire. They lived at 141 Weardale Street, 22 Edward Street Spennymoor. Their children were Roy, Ernest Stanley, Ivy, Myrtle, Olive and William.
John died 14/03/1914 at Edward Street, Spennymoor; Leonora died 21/04/1961 at 4 Sykes Grove Harrogate.
William Craven was born 4th October 1907 at 116 Weardale Street, and lived at 147 Weardale Street, Spennymoor and 22 Edward Street, Spennymoor. He was educated at Rosa Street School, Spennymoor, and played in goal for school football team.
He became an apprentice cabinet maker and french polisher at Kenmir’s Furniture factory, Spennymoor and acquired a new job at Ditchburn’s Furniture Sunderland.
On 4th September 1937 he married Ethel Lister, born 19th August 1908 at Coldstream Farm, Croxdale/Tudhoe, the daughter of Thomas Arthur (1887) of Tudhoe and Mary Ellen Lister nee Lowe (1867) of Sunderland Bridge Village Croxdale.
They lived at 12 Roker Road, Sunderland, but left there at the beginning of WW2 and moved to 3 Johnson Terrace, Croxdale. We were led to believe he played three games for Sunderland A.F.C. while living at Roker Road Sunderland.
They had three children: twin daughters Wendie Mary and Barbara Leonora and son Ian William Craven.
William Craven entered the Royal Navy on June 17th 1941 and served as JX268206 Ordinary Seaman and Able Seaman, serving at HMS Glendower from 17/06/1941, (a training establishment at Pwllheli) and HMS President 111 Gunnery School from 30/09/1941. He became a DEM Gunner aboard Defensively Equipped Merchant Vessels. His character was assessed as Very Good throughout his short naval service and his Personal Description on entry was: height 5ft-4.25ins; chest 35.5ins; hair fair; eyes grey and complexion pale.
While on Convoy PB65A with five other vessels the SS Asian of 2461 tons departed from Bandar Abbas on December 5th 1943 bound for Karachi, arriving December 9th 1943. They left Karachi bound for Colombo, sailing independently. He lost his life when the SS Asian was in collision with the SS Harmatris of 5395 tons gross whilst in Convoy MB59 in the Indian Ocean south of Nagercoil India at 16.50h December 26th 1943. The co-ordinates of the sinking are given as 7’45’N and 77’40’E. There were fourteen survivors, one deck officer and thirteen Indian seamen
Medals awarded:1939-1945 medal, 1939 Star, The Atlantic Star, The Burma Star.
He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial Kent 68, 3. and his name was added to Spennymoor Cenotaph in 1998, amid much media coverage, thanks to Spennymoor Town Council.
Life of Steamship Asian.
Built at Shorts Sunderland No 295 in 1900, 2461 Tons as The Saltwell for the Northern Steamship Company Newcastle
1912 sold to Norway renamed ALBRECHT W SELMER
1917 renamed GURTH
1932 sold to Moller Shanghai renamed WINNIFRIED MOLLER
1933 sold renamed HWAH CHONG
1935 sold to Khedivial Mail & Graving Dock renamed KHEDIVE ISMAIL
1938 sold renamed Asian, requisitioned for Liner Division managed by British India Steamship Co.
The crew of S.S. ASIAN (HONG KONG).
ABDUL AZIZ, Fireman. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
ABDUL AZIZ, Oiler. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
ABDUL HADIA, Seacunny. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
ABDUL HUSAIN, Trimmer. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
ABDUL JABAR, Winchman. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
ABDUL KHALIK, Tindal. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
ABDUL MAJID, General servant. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
ABDUL MATLUB, Seaman. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
AHMAD, Boy. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
AHMAD, Trimmer. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
ALI AHMAD, Seaman. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
ALI MIAN, Trimmer. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
AYUB ALI, Oiler. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
BADSHAH MIAN, Seacunny. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.BASHIR ULLAH, Seaman. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
CHAN KAN, Radio Officer. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Merchant Navy. 26th December 1943.
CRAVEN, Able Seaman, WILLIAM, C/JX 268206. President lll Royal Navy.
ELVIDGE, Master, REGINALD, S.S. Asian (Hong Kong).
ENGLISH, Second Officer, ARTHUR FERGUSON, S.S. Asian (Hong Kong).
FAQIR MUHAMMAD, General servant. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
GELLIE, Chief Officer, ERIC MALCOLM, S.S. Asian (Hong Kong).
GHANI, cook. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
MUHAMMAD BIN IBRAHIM, Carpenter. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
MUHAMMAD NAWAS, Tindal. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
MUHAMMAD YUNIS, Oiler. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
MUMTAZ MIAN, Fireman. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
MURTAZA ALI, Fireman. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
NAUROZ ALI, Tindal. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
NOA MIAN, Seacunny. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
NOBA GUCHAIT, Topass. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
OLIEGREEN, Chief Engineer Officer, OSCAR EMIL, S.S. Asian (Hong Kong).
RATCLIFFE, Able Seaman, THOMAS ARTHUR, C/JX 398501. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy.
RUSTUM, Chief Cook. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
SADIQ SHEIKH, Trimmer. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
SHAFI IBRAHIM, Cassab. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
SIKANDAR, Cassab. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
SULTAN, General servant. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
SUROZ ALI, Serang. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
TUKA MIAN, Donkeyman. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
YUSUF, BHANDARY. S.S. Asian (Hong Kong). Indian Merchant Navy.
William Craven's name was added to the memorial at Sedgefield S131.02 in 1998. He is also remembered at Croxdale on C104.01 and C104.06 and on our List of Ships’ crews
