On Portsmouth Naval Memorial is the name of M/18678 Wireman 2nd Class William Carl Routledge, serving on H.M.S. Defence with the Royal Navy  who died 31/05/1916.

The son of Robert and Margaret Routledge, of 14, Home View, Washington Station, Co. Durham.

William was born on the 17th March 1897 at Newcastle upon Tyne the eldest child of 5 children to Robert Routledge born Carlisle, 26th August 1874, died in October 1962, and his wife Margaret, born 17th June 1875, Newcastle upon Tyne. The other children were Herbert Rueben born 1898, Violet, born 3rd September 1903, Arthur born 1906 and Margaret  born 1909. They were married in 1896. In 1901, the family were residing at 6 Houndslip Terrace, in South Shields.

By 1911 the family were now residing at 14 Home View, Washington, Co Durham. Robert Routledge was an Electrician by trade. In 1939 Violet was residing with her parents with two of her children, Violet had married and now had the surname Hogg. The two children were Alan (Kenneth) Hogg, born 21st September 1924, at School and Jean (Patricia) Hogg, born 17th March 1934 also at School.

William Carl Routledge joined the Royal Navy on the 26th January 1916 on the Vernon. He was 5 feet 10 and a half inches tall, brown hair, brown eyes with a fresh complexion. He spent three days at the Vernon, before being transferred to the Victory II an administrative training base. Then he was posted as a Wireman to HMS Defence.

HMS Defence was was sunk with all hands at Jutland on the 31st May 1916. His name appears on Portsmouth Memorial. William was a member of the Westwood Club and his service was praised in the Holy Trinity magazine.

Acknowledgments: Washington Schools Military History and European Culture Project.

William Carl Routledge is remembered at Washington on W96.01, W96.09, W96.22 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.