William James Dunaway (1882-1916)

Dates

Birth: 24 March 1882 Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK
Father: Francis Henry Dunaway 1860-1939
Mother: Mary Ann Susannah Pressey 1862-1912

Christening: Unknown

Marriage: October-December 1905 Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK
Wife: Mary Ann Moucher [Belton] 1885-1959

Death: 31 May 1916 Battle of Jutland
Memorial; Panel 16 Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK

Children

None known

Notes

Birth of William James Dunaway in FreeBMD in April-June 1882 in Portsea (2b 530).

In the 1891 census as William J Dunnaway (sic - on the original) aged 9, born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and living with his parents (Frances H and Mary A), brother (James G) and two sisters (Elisabeth and Emily) at 45 Town Street, Kingston St Mary, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

In the 1901 census as William Dunaway aged 20, born in Portsmouth, Hampshire and a stoker in Devonport, Devon. I cannot find the entry in the Ancestry census.

Marriage of William James Dunaway and Mary Ann Moucher in FreeBMD in October-December 1905 in Portsmouth (2b 1063).

In the 1911 census as William J Dunaway aged 29, born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, a stoker in the Royal Navy, and living with his wife (Mary Ann), and brother-in-law and sister-in-law (George and Ellen Oliver) in four rooms at 92 Havant Rd, Kingston Cross, Northend, Landport, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Entry in Ancestry UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 for William James Dunaway died 31 May 1916 age 34 Portsmouth Naval Memorial 1916 A-F. "Dunaway, Sto. P.O William James, 305131 R.N. H.M.S. "Invincible. "Index No, M.R. 3 Portsmouth Naval Memorial 1916 A-F [...] Killed in action at Battle of Jutland 31st May, 1916. Age 34. Husband of Mary Ann Dunaway, of 92, Havant Rd., North End, Portsmouth. 16."

Entry in Ancestry All UK, Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 results for William James Dunaway Sto PO 305131. (Po) Royal Navy born on 24 March 1884 (sic) in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action on 31 May 1916 on HMS Invincible, Body Not Recovered For Burial, Widow: Mary A, 92, Havant Rd, Portsmouth.

Entry in FindAGrave for PO William James Dunaway Petty Officer Stoker, Royal Navy. Aged 34. Died on 31 May 1916 Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Final resting place unknown. Name listed on Panel 16. To which a confusing note has been added on 17 May 2010 "William James Dunaway, b 1861 to Frances and Mary Ann Dunaway, Died 31 5 1916, H.M.S.Invincible, at Battle of Jutland." which must confuse him with another William James Dunaway.

C Clark has an entry in Ancestry Public Member Trees for William James Dunaway born in 1882 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, parents Francis Henry Dunaway and Mary Ann Susannah Pressey. Another entry gives his birth on 24 Mar 1884, marriage to Mary Ann and death on 31 May 1916.

Portsea was renamed Portsmouth in 1900.

From Wikipedia

HMS Invincible was a battlecruiser of the British Royal Navy, the lead ship of her class of three, and the first battlecruiser to be built by any country in the world. In the First World War she participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight in a minor role as she was the oldest and slowest of the British battlecruisers present. She fired on the light cruiser Cöln, but did not hit her before Cöln was sunk by the battlecruiser Lion. During the Battle of the Falkland Islands, Invincible and her sister Inflexible sank the armoured cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau almost without loss to themselves, despite numerous hits by the German ships. She was the flagship of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron during the Battle of Jutland. The squadron had been detached from Admiral Beatty's Battlecruiser Fleet a few days before the battle for gunnery practice with the Grand Fleet and acted as its heavy scouting force during the battle. She was destroyed by a magazine explosion during the battle after 'Q' turret was penetrated. [...] But at 6:30 Invincible abruptly appeared as a clear target before Lützow and Derfflinger. The two German ships then fired three salvoes each at Invincible and sank her in 90 seconds. At least one 305 mm (12-inch) shell from the third salvo struck her midships 'Q' turret. The shell penetrated the front of 'Q' turret, blew off the roof and detonated the midships magazines, which blew the ship in half. The explosion possibly ignited 'A' and 'X' magazines. Of her complement, 1026 officers and men were killed, including Rear-Admiral Hood. There were only six survivors picked up by Badger.

Relationship

William James Dunaway was the husband of Mary Ann Moucher, wife of Henry Belton, Felicity's first cousin three times removed.

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