MOUNTNEY W. J.

William James Mountney

Private CH/143(S)

H.M.S. "Vanguard.", Royal Marine Light Infantry

William James Mountney died on 9th July 1917, aged 20 years, and was remembered on the CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent, United Kingdom.

Private Mountney was one of "Kitcheners Marines", who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regt) to the RMLI.

"600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI), and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI, and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY/200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters, 200 of which were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited, and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1(S) to CH/200(S)."

HMS Vanguard

William Mountney was one of the 800 men who lost their lives when HMS Vanguard exploded in Scapa Flow. Further details of the accident are available to read here. The wreck of the Vanguard, lying on the sea bed, was declared a war grave in 1982.

He was the son of James and Annie Mountney, of 22 Co-operative Street, Stanton Hill, Notts.    

Notts Free Press, 19th October 1917

At the Stanton Hill Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday morning a memorial service was held for four young men who have sacrificed their lives at the war. (Privates W. J. Mountney, J. W. Dorricott, H. Smith and C. L. Vann), all of whom were previously connected with the above place of worship. Evidence was not wanting that the deceased soliders were held in high respect and that much sympathy was felt for the bereaved families. In spite of the service being held in the morning, the seating accommodation of the building was taxed almost to the extreme, and the large assembly was augmented by the presence of the Stanton Hill Brass Band under the conductorship of Bandmaster J. T. Parkes, and a good representation of the local volunteers and officers. The service was conducted by the Rev. M. H. Bainton (curcuit minister), Sutton, who delivered an appropriate sermon on the 37th verse of the 10th chapter of St Matthew's Gospel. Prior to making reference to the deceased soldiers, the preacher extended much sympathy to the bereaved families in their great loss. These young men were not only brave but good.
W. J. Mountney, who came as a boy to that Sunday School, joined the R.M.L.I. in 1914, and was among the first draft in the Dardanelles landing. Whilst there he contracted dysentry, being subsequently sent to England, and on rejoining his regiment lost his life on H.M.S. Vanguard in July.

BACK TO STANTON HILL NAMES

Research by Heather Faulkes
Information on "Kitcheners Marines" kindly supplied by Des Turner