Nathaniel Williams, HMS Dreel Castle

HMS Dreel Castle was an Auxiliary Patrol Base at Falmouth, Cornwall. The inquest into his death determined the cause to be an accident when a steel hawser parted and swept him off his feet resulting in a fractured skull. He joined the RNR in 1895 and had qualified as a diver in 1914. He was working on HM Salvage Tug Hughli at the time of the accident.

Born on 5 November 1874 at Holyhead, the son of Nathaniel and Phoebe Williams. In 1894 he was serving on the sailing ship 'Lizzie' at Weymouth, Dorset. He later joined the LNWR and was employed as a Fireman on their vessels - SS Slievemore and SS Rathmore. He was the husband of Catherine Ellen Williams (nee Chambers) of 27 Rock Street, Holyhead. They married at West Derby, Liverpool in 1900.

In 1901 he lived with his wife and her large extended family (8 others) at her parents house of 10 Millbank Terrace, Holyhead. In 1911 he and his family were again recorded at 10 Millbank Terrace, Holyhead with his wife's family of Chambers. In all there were 12 people at the house, including a son, John Nathaniel Williams (6) and two daughters, Sophia Ellen Williams (8) and Elizabeth Eunice Williams (3). At the time of his death his family was living at 27 Rock Street, Holyhead. His wife died at this address in 1987, aged 80. His daughter Elizabeth Eunice married Charles Alfred Ashman.

Awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal. He received his Royal Naval Reserve 'Long Service and Good Conduct' Medal in August 1911.

Buried at Holyhead (Maeshyfryd) Burial Board Cemetery, grave location 2.1486. It is a CWGC headstone laid flat on the grave of his wife, daughter Elizabeth Eunice Ashman and her husband.