On Tower Hill Memorial is the name of Chief Engineer Officer William Forrest, serving on M.V. Athelcrest (Liverpool) with the Merchant Navy who died 25/08/1940.

The son of Thomas Forrest, F.C.M.S., and Ellen Forrest.

Colin Boyd has provided the following:

William was born in 1899 and was christened at St. Michael’s Church, Westoe on April 26th 1899.

At the time of the 1911 Census he was a twelve year old schoolboy living with his parents Thomas and Ellen, three brothers and two sisters at 21, St. Michael’s Avenue, South Shields. William joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and subsequently served with the Royal Air Force.

He must have gone to sea shortly after the end of the war in order to have time to qualify as a Chief Engineer. William was lost when the m.v. “Athelcrest” was torpedoed on 25/08/1940.

When Probate was granted in December 1940 his entire estate of £1318 3 shillings and 8 pence was awarded to his unmarried sister Nellie.

William Forrest is remembered at Westoe in W101.08 page 28 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.