Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
William was born in the 4th quarter of 1882 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. In March 1901 William was serving as a Private with the Howe Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry, stationed at Portland, Dorset. In April 1911 William was serving as a Private with the Royal Marine Light Infantry and was stationed at Plymouth, Devon. William married Emily Hemmings on the 22nd June 1915 in the Registry Office, Leicester, Emily was born 16th April 1884 in Enderby, they resided in John Street, Enderby, Leicestershire. They had a son William G. Wingell, born 14th September 1911. In 1939 Emily was residing with her son William, a master boot and shoe manufacturer, at 66, West Street, Enderby, this being the family home of her brother George T. Hemmings, a road stone quarry worker, born 25th December 1882 and his wife Sarah, born 20th April 1883. Emily died in January 1958 and was interred in St. John the Baptist Churchyard, Enderby on the 6th January. Little is known of William’s parentage except that he was born in Mountsorrel, he also gave a false age upon enlistment in to the Royal Marines, this would have enabled him to reach man’s pay earlier than had he given his correct date of birth which was registered in the 4th quarter of 1882 as opposed to the birth date he gave of the 18th January 1882, His service record shows his father as next of kin at an earlier stage in his service, and some addresses, 18, Stamford Street, 74, Frank Street, Humberstone Road and 73, Wharf Street, are shown under his father’s name but due to their being crossing out, some are unreadable, but they do give a clear indication that his father lived in the city of Leicester, though no trace can be found of him under the surname Wingell.
William enlisted into the Royal Marines to serve a 5 + 7 year engagement on the 4th July 1899 in Leicester, his reckonable service to commence on 17th January 1900 and he was allocated the service number PLY/ 9788 in Plymouth, Devon. He gave his date and place of birth as the 18th January 1882 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, his trade or calling as bricklayer’s labourer and his religion as Church of England. He gave his wife Emily Wingell of John Street, Enderby, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6¼ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had blue eyes, it was noted that he had a scar on his right forearm and on his left shin. His record of service began when he joined the Recruit Depot at Deal as a Private on the 4/7/1899 – 7/3/00. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 8/3/00 – 15/9/00. Posted to the Howe Battalion on the 16/9/00 – 12/10/01. Transferred to Empress of India on the 13/10/01 – 14/10/01. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 15/10/01 – 16/12/01. Embarked Pearl on the 17/12/01 – 29/11/04. Transferred to Simoon on the 30/11/04 – 14/02/05. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 15/02/05 – 19/07/05. Embarked Highflyer on the 20/07/05 – 13/7/06. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 14/7/06 – 6/11/06. Embarked Elizabeth on the 7/11/06 – 1/2/07. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 2/2/07 – 16/2/07. Embarked Emerald on the 17/2/07 – 4/5/07. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 5/5/07 – 4/6/07. Embarked Blake on the 5/6/07 – 5/8/08. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 6/8/08 – 2/12/08. Embarked Donegal on the 3/12/08 – 8/3/09. Transferred to Aboukir on the 9/3/09 – 3/4/11. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 4/4/11 – 22/5/11. Embarked Donegal on the 23/5/11 – 24/10/11. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 25/10/11 – 14/12/11. Embarked Royal Oak (Vivid) on the 15/12/11 – 2/1/12. Posted to Plymouth Division on the 3/1/12 – 17/1/12. Enrolled in Royal Fleet Reserve Class B (Character “Very Good” and allotted the service number RMR/PLY/B/810 on the 18/1/12. Attended Plymouth Division under training on the 12/1/12 – 27/1/12. Attended Plymouth Division under training on the 13/7/13 – 19/7/13. Attended Plymouth Division under training aboard Talbot on the 15/7/14 – 25/7/14. Attended Plymouth Division for mobilisation on the 4/8/14 – 14/8/14. Embarked Majestic on the 15/8/14 – 11/6/15. Posted Plymouth Division on the 12/6/15 – 13/7/15. Embarked Victorian on the 14/7/15 – 28/2/17. Posted Plymouth Division on the 1/3/17 – 7/9/17. Embarked President III on the 8/9/17 – 23/1/18. Ship was sunk on the 23/1/18. He was awarded the South Africa 1899 medal.
On Thursday June 24th 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “FROM THE COUNTY.” – Enderby. – A Sailor’s Wedding. – The marriage of Private William Wingell, R.M., to Emily, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hemmings, of John-street, Enderby, on Tuesday, created more than the usual amount of interest by reason of the fact that the bridegroom is one of the heroes of the Dardanelles, being a survivor of H.M.S. Majestic, which fell a victim to the torpedo of a German submarine. Having served a full period in the Royal Marines, he was called up last August, on the outbreak of war, and was on the Majestic until she was sent to “Davy Jones’ locker.” He gives a vivid description of his experiences during the last terrible minutes. Private Wingell landed at Plymouth on Saturday last, and has made use of his ten days’ furlough to tie the nuptial knot. The marriage was by special licence. The bride was charmingly attired in a dress of white embroidered voile, wearing a pink satin hat, trimmed with silk net. Miss Nellie Hemmings, sister of the bride, was bridesmaid, wearing a dress of white voile, with cream tagel hat trimmed with forget-me-nots and asters. Mr. Geo. Hemmings, brother of the bride, was best man. A reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents.
The background relating to the circumstances in which William lost his life are as follows: On the 19th January 1918 SS. Baykerran sailed from New York en route to St. Nazaire with a cargo of grain. She got into difficulties crossing the North Atlantic when off Nova Scotia and sent out a distress signal, but sank on the 23rd January 1918 with the loss of 41 lives, William was one of three Royal Marine Gunners aboard who were listed as untraced.