William Henry Newey - Royal Navy

[Margaret in Burton]

William, uncle Bill, was my mothers uncle.

He was born on 4th June 1891 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, the youngest child of Jabez and Phillis Helena Newey nee Rust. My grandfather Edgar Newey was his brother.

William joined the Navy in 1909 and served until 1921.

His naval record is on FMP



Naval Record

There is a family story told to me by his son that he had a habit of being late back from leave. Once this saved his life. The ship he was on was sunk losing all of the crew. My grandfather and grandmother (his brother and sister in law) assumed he was dead.

Grandad said to granny one day, "what's the matter you look like you've seen a ghost?"

She said " I have, your Bill just walked through the back door."

He'd missed the ship and it saved his life. I haven't checked this out with the ships he sailed on, should do really.