William John Mcghee

Story:
William John Mcghee was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 8th November 1889 and baptised there on 8th December 1889, the son of William Mcghee and Mary Maria Mcghee (née Bown). The family lived in Northend Lane, Motcombe, Dorset, until moving to 1 Bramble Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire by 1901.  William enlisted in the Royal Navy on 11 Jul 1906 as a Junior Rating and served on many ships including HMS Dreadnought at the Battle of Jutland and HMS Naiad - a Cruiser and Minelayer.  He worked his way through the ranks becoming an Engine Room Artificer with a Junior Officer rank described as Mte (E) on 5th April 1917.  He married Mary Ann R. Herron in the Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, Registry area in 1919 and there is evidence of at least one child of the marriage.  The 1921 Census shows him still serving now aboard HMS Centurion (a King George V Class Battleship) with the rank of Engineer Lieutenant based in Malta.  There is no discharge date shown on his records.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1914/15 Star.  By the 1939 Register it is known that he and his wife were living at 153 Whirlowdale Road, Sheffield, West Riding, Yorkshire, and that he was employed as a Naval Ordinance Inspector (Civil Service).  His death was registered in Poole, Dorset, in 1967.