William James Yeo – Royal Navy, H.M.S. Anchusa
Stoker 1st Class William James Yeo – Royal Navy, H.M.S. Anchusa
Early Life and Family Background
William James Yeo was born in 1887 in Dunsford,
Devon, the son of John Yeo and Elizabeth Croot. The family
lived in rural Devon, where John worked throughout his life as an agricultural
labourer.
By the 1891 Census, the Yeo family were living at Lowley
Cottage, Doddiscombsleigh, Devon. William’s father, John, aged 47,
was employed as an Agricultural Labourer, and his mother Elizabeth,
aged 43, managed the home. Their children were John (26), also an
Agricultural Labourer; Henry (18), a Labourer; Susan
(16), a Servant; Nellie (12); Charles (10); Jessie
(6); and William, then 4 years old. The younger children were
attending school.
A decade later, the 1901 Census records the family at
Middle Rucombe, Combe in Teignhead, Devon. John, now 57,
continued to work as a Farm Labourer, and Elizabeth, aged 53,
remained at home. Their only child still living with them was William,
aged 14, who was already working as a Farm Labourer. Also present
was Robert Croot, aged 78, Elizabeth’s father.
Early Naval Career
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| William James Yeo Navy Records |
In 1904, at the age of seventeen, William first enlisted in the Royal Navy, beginning what would become a long and committed naval career. His early service laid the foundation for the skills and experience that later saw him serve as a Stoker 1st Class, a demanding and physically intense role responsible for maintaining a ship’s boilers and power systems.
Marriage
In 1909, William married Margaret Ann Moore in
Swansea, marking his move from rural Devon to industrial South Wales.
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| 1911 Census |
By the 1911 Census, William and Margaret were living at 26 William Street, Swansea, the home of Margaret’s widowed mother, Jane Moore, aged 59, who worked as a Charwoman. William, aged 24, was employed as a Labourer, and Margaret, aged 22, was managing their household.
Service in the Royal Navy
William continued his naval service into the First World
War, serving as a Stoker 1st Class aboard H.M.S. Anchusa,
one of the Royal Navy’s “Flower‑class” sloops. These vessels were part of the
secretive Q‑ship programme—ships disguised as merchant vessels to lure
German U‑boats into surfacing, where they could be engaged by hidden armaments.
It was a dangerous and often deadly form of naval warfare.
The Loss of H.M.S. Anchusa – 16th July 1918
On 16th July 1918, H.M.S. Anchusa
was attacked and sunk by the German submarine U‑54 off the coast of
Ireland. The ship went down with heavy loss of life, including Stoker 1st
Class William James Yeo. The sinking was one of several tragic losses
suffered by Q‑ships during the later stages of the war, as German submarines
became increasingly cautious and aggressive.
Death and Commemoration
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| British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records |
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| William James Yeo Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth credit - findagrave |
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