On Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, is the name of 8354S Stoker William Sweet, serving on H.M.S. Queen Mary with the Royal Naval Reserve  who died 31/05/1916.

He was the son of Mrs. M.M. Sweet, of 2, Cross Row, Ashington, and the late William Sweet.

Colin Boyd has provided the following :

William was born on 23rd July 1897 in Ashington, Northumberland to William Sweet, a coal miner and his wife Mary.  Four years later he was living with his parents, three brothers and two sisters at 2, Cross Row, Ashington.

Ten years later Mary was a widow living with five sons, three daughters and a boarder at the Cross Row address. William (Senior) had died in 1909 and William (Junior) was working at a colliery aged 13.

William enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve on 23rd December 1914 when he was described as being 5 feet 3½ inches tall with grey eyes and a fair complexion. He was also under age, having added a year to his age so he was discharged on 29th December 1914.

He re-enlisted on 16th August 1915 when he was 18. William was posted to HMS Queen Mary on 2nd March 1916 and was killed in action on 31st May 1916 when that vessel exploded and sank during the early stages of the Battle of Jutland with the loss of 1266 officers and ratings

Morpeth Herald 07/07/1916 carries a brief obituary:
Stoker Wm. Sweet, Ashington, H.M.S. Queen Mary, lost.

Acknowledgements: Barney Rice; Margaret Allison

William Sweet is remembered at Ashington on A17.01 (A17.27), A17.06, A17.08 and A17.43 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.