William Alfred Mallam – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Leading Seaman William Alfred Mallam – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division

William Alfred Mallam was born in 1897 in Swansea, the son of Percy Boyen Mallam and Martha Ann Kingdon, who had married in 1890 in Swansea. His early childhood unfolded in the rural and industrial districts of Trewyddfa and Landore, shaped by farm labour, municipal work, and the close‑knit family life typical of turn‑of‑the‑century Swansea.

Family Life

1901 Census

The 1901 Census records the Mallam family living at Trewyddfa Farm, Swansea, where Percy B. Mallam, aged 32, worked as a General Labourer on the farm, and his wife Martha Ann, aged 33 and born in Cardiff, managed the home. Their children — Lauh M., 9; Sarah A., 6; William (recorded as Alfred W.), 4; and Luther G., 2 — formed a young family rooted in the agricultural fringe of the Lower Swansea Valley.

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 18 Evans Terrace, Landore, where Percy, now 42, was employed as a Market Man by Swansea Corporation, and Martha Ann, aged 44, continued to oversee the home. Their children present were William A., 15, working as a Cold Roller; Arthur G., 12; and Martha A., 10, both of whom attended school. The census paints a picture of a household transitioning from rural labour to municipal and industrial employment.

Naval Service – Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division

During the First World War, William Alfred Mallam enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) and served as a Leading Seaman with the Hood Battalion, part of the Royal Naval Division (RND). The RND was a unique formation composed of naval personnel who fought as infantry, seeing action in some of the war’s most demanding theatres, including Gallipoli, the Somme, and the Western Front.

The Hood Battalion, named after Admiral Samuel Hood, was known for its discipline, resilience, and heavy involvement in frontline operations. Leading Seamen like William held positions of responsibility within the battalion, often supervising sections of men and carrying out both naval and infantry duties.

Death and Burial

British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records

William Alfred Mallam
Cwmgelli Cemetery, Swansea
credit - findagrave

According to the British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, William died on 8 April 1917 at Queen Mary’s Military Hospital, Whalley, from a gunshot wound to the head. His death occurred while still serving with the Hood Battalion, reflecting the severe injuries sustained by many members of the Royal Naval Division during its operations on the Western Front.

William’s body was brought home to Swansea and laid to rest at Cwmgelli Cemetery, where he is commemorated among the wartime burials of the First World War.