Medal Index Card
H.M.H.S. Aberdonian thanks to Maritime Quest
William Mowat was born on the 15th February 1898, at 44 Vine Street, Wallsend, Northumberland, the second eldest son of nine children [however, one died], of John Mowat, [Hebburn] a Foreman Riveter, and his wife Annie, daughter of Ralph Codling.
William was educated at the Church Bank, Church of England School at Wallsend. He was a storekeeper's apprentice.
In 1911, the family were residing at 24 Myrtle Grove, Wallsend, Northumberland. William's eldest brother John, [born 1892 West Hartlepool], was an apprentice carpenter, Annie, [born 1897], Cissie, [born 1900], Ralph Codling Mowat, [born, 1903], Mary, [born 1905], Lily, [born 1908], and Archibald, [born 1910], were all born in Wallsend.
William joined the Royal Army Medical Corps on the 28th October 1915 at North Shields.
He was posted to H.M.H.S., Aberdonian.
"The ABERDONIAN was built by D. & W. Henderson at Glasgow for the Aberdeen Steam Navigation Co., and completed in 1909. She served on the company's passenger and cargo run from the Aberdeen Wharf, Limehouse to Hull and Aberdeen. In 1915, after the outbreak of WWI, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and fitted out as a hospital ship. She had berths for 214 patients and a RAMC staff of 34. She was decommissioned in June 1919, and returned to commercial Service. During WW2, she was used by the Admiralty as a Depot Ship. In 1946 she was sold abroad, and scrapped in 1950 after being damaged in a typhoon."
He died on the 31st of March 1917, in Southampton at a hospital of exposure and cold, after the Aberdonian struck a mine and sunk off Milford Haven in 1917.
Lieut, F. S. Cheeseman wrote "He was liked by all. He was one of the orderlies in my ward, and I am glad to tell you that he was always most willing and a good worker, kind and attentive to patients."
He was unmarried.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
[The address of 57 Grove Road, Rock Ferry, Cheshire, is the address given to John Mowat when he moved after the War.]
William Mowat is not remembered in the North East on a War Memorial.
Footnote: In 1918 the HMHS Aberdonian was commanded by Captain James Walker Beattie who died on the 23rd July 1918 on-board ship. War Related Sickness, Captain James Walker Beattie died of heart disease age 66 whilst on board "The Aberdonian" of which he was Officer Commanding.
He is buried at Sunderland (Ryhope Road) Cemetery.
