Photo: Derek Haynes
W. Tate
Stoker 1st Class RN
P/KX89513
H.M.S. Royal Oak
27th October 1939 Age 23
Oh Hear Us
When We Cry to Thee
For Those in Peril 0n The Sea
Son of William and Maud Matilda Tate, of Southwick, Sunderland.
Derek Haynes has submitted the following:-
William was born March Q 1918 in the registration district of Sunderland the fourth child of seven to parents William and Maud Matilda Tate (nee Vickery); William and Maud’s marriage was registered in Sunderland in the December Q 1910.
William’s siblings were: James Vickery: June Q 1911 Died 13th July 1926; Maud Matilda: September Q 1913 Died 22nd August 1915; Maud Matilda June Q 1921; Leslie March Q 1925; Freda D.: June Q 1928
At the time of the 1911 census William, his wife Maud and son James were residing at 13 James Armitage Street, Southwick with Maud’s parents James and Francis Vickery. The census gives William’s occupation as a shipyard plater, but later records state he was employed as a labourer in a shipyard.
Prior to William’s birth William and Maud’s first daughter Maud Matilda aged only one day died on the 22nd August 1915 at 5 Lilburn Place, Southwick, she was buried in Southwick Cemetery on the 24th of August 1915.
Tragedy was again to hit the family when on Tuesday 13th July 1926 William’s elder brother James while swimming with friends in the River Wear near to the Wearmouth Colliery Boathouse got into difficulties. Even though two of his friends made every attempt to rescue James he sadly drowned, the Deputy Coroner A. E. E. Boulton returned a verdict of accidentally drowned and remarked that every effort had been made to save his life.
Born in Southwick young William was educated at High Southwick School. On September 7th 1936 aged 18 years he joined the Royal Navy and commenced training at HMS Victory at Portsmouth. After qualifying as a Stoker First Class and given the service number P/KX89513 William was transferred to the Royal Oak.
In the early hours of Saturday 14th October 1939 while at anchor at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys the Royal Oak was struck twice by torpedoes from the German submarine U – 47, many of the crew were below deck at the time asleep, the ship sunk within minutes.
A list of survivors who made it ashore was provided by the Admiralty and published in the Sunderland Daily Echo, William was not amongst them. It is not known when William’s family were informed that he had survived, but on the 17th October 1939 the Echo reported how overjoyed four mothers were to learn that their sons had survived the tragedy. William’s mother Maud was one of them she told the newspaper “I am so happy I feel like celebrating.”
William and Maud travelled up to the Invergordon Hospital to be at their son’s bedside, newspaper reports said that young William was in a state of delirium and did not recognise his parents. He did manage to say that he was in his bunk when the ship sank. Very badly scalded he managed to escape through a porthole into the sea where he was picked up. Sadly, William succumbed to his injuries and died on the 27th October 1939 in Invergordon Hospital, Scotland.
Following William’s death, on Monday the 30th October the family placed an announcement in the Roll of Honour section of the Sunderland Echo this read:
At a Naval Hospital, on October 27, aged 21 years, William (1st class Stoker of H.M.S. Royal Oak) the dearly beloved son of William and Maud Matilda Tate (nee Vickery). Internment at Southwick Cemetery on Tuesday, cortege leaving residence 24 Nelson Street, Southwick, at 1.15 for service in Methodist Church, The Green. Friends kindly invited. Deeply mourned.
On Tuesday 31st October the Sunderland Echo reported that the streets of Southwick were lined with people who wanted to pay their last respects to William. The coffin which had been provided by the Admiralty was draped in the Union Jack, and was also covered in plush material and adorned with sailors’ knots.
William was laid to rest on the 31st October 1939 in Section AA. Grave no. 148 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place.
Over 800 men lost their lives on the Royal Oak; today she lies in five metres of water and is a designated war grave. There is also a permanent memorial in Kirkwall’s St Magnus Cathedral.
William Tate is not remembered on a local War Memorial he is named in Peter Gibson's Book
