RUSSELL, WILLIAM (B.E.M.)

Born 10/09/1886, Cardiff

Died 18/02/1946, age 59, Cleethorpes

Buried 22/02/1946

Boatswain, Merchant Navy, S.S. Bury (Grimsby), Associated Humber Lines

Son of William and Susan Russell

Baptised 03/10/1886 at St Stephen’s, Cardiff

1891 – living at 40 Grafton Street, with father, a marine engineer, mother and siblings Mildred, Richard and Kate (b 1891).

1901 – living at 17 Stanley Street, Grimsby, with parent and siblings Mildred, Richard, Kate, Mary (b 1894) and George (b 1895).

1911 – living at 42 Kew Road, Cleethorpes. William is a sailor on a trading vessel. Listing also includes his mother and siblings Kate, Mary and George

William’s Royal Naval Reserve record shows that he enlisted on 29/09/1914. At the time he was described as 5ft 8½in tall, fresh complexion, broken roof of nose, blues eyes, with 37 inch chest.

He became a Leading Seaman in 1915 and was awarded chevrons in 1915, 1916 and 1917.

He served on the Pembroke, City of Carlisle, Actaeon, Attentive III, Victory and President III, from which he was demobilized on 20/01/1919.

Two addresses where he lived are given on the RNR record, 1 Lyndhurst Terrace, Mill Road, Cleethorpes and 12 Westfield Grove, St Hughs Avenue, Cleethorpes

Husband of Mary Jane Shepherd (b 23/12/1894), married 14/01/1920, Clee

Father of twin daughters Jean and Edna, born 05/11/1928

1939 Register – living at 37 Crowhill Avenue with wife and daughters. Occupation is listed as boatswain

The S.S. Bury was a convoy rescue ship during WW2. During its war service it escorted 48 convoys and rescued 237 survivors from 9 sunken ships. It was returned to its owners by the Admiralty on 26/06/1945 at Immingham

William Russell was posthumously awarded the British Empire Medal on 24th June 1946

Address at time of death: 37 Crowhill Avenue, Cleethorpes

Grave ref: Section AA, Grave H55

 William Russell was the great uncle of Trevor Ekins and he has provided us with the following information about William’s widow Mary.

Mary Shepherd (nee Marfleet) was previously married to Edward Shepherd and they had one son, Leonard. 

On the 12th February 1916, Edward was serving as a fireman on the Grimsby registered Mercantile Marine SS Leicester, a vessel requisitioned in 1914 as a store carrier. Whilst on passage from Portsmouth to Cromarty with general cargo, the ship struck a German mine and sank with the loss of 17 lives, including Edward.

In later life, as she began to suffer from the infirmities of old age, Mary moved from her home in Crowhill Avenue to one of the Coronation Cottages in Mill Road. At that time (late 60's/early 70's), I believe there was strict criteria governing the allocation of cottages and understand it was her status as a war widow twice over that enabled her to secure one.