Seaman James John Benoit of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was one of 21 Newfoundland sailors who lost their lives when the Laurentic sank on January 25th 1917. They were all experienced sailors, having been trained on HMS Calypso years before the war began. James was born on the 1st of April 1893, in Stephenville,…
Tag: HMS Laurentic
William West McGhie
Engine Room Artificer William West McGhie of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, was the second child of Nathaniel and Elizabeth McGhie (née West). He was born and grew up in Hutchesontown, in Glasgow’s Southside. Like most working class families in Glasgow at the time, the McGhie’s lived in a four story tenement building in which…
Alfred Dougherty
Able Seaman Alfred Dougherty was born on December 5th 1884 and baptised in the Church of St George, Douglas, Isle of Man on January 5th 1885. Much of his adult life was spent at sea; on fishing boats, passenger ships and military vessels. His parents were both born in The Isle of Man; his father…
Ernest Winterton
Born 4th Jan 1891 in Nottingham, Able Seaman Ernest Winterton was the son of William and Elizabeth Winterton (née Dawes). Both of his parents were born in Nottingham, and they married there in 1868. Ernest was the second youngest of their twelve children. In 1871 William and Elizabeth had two children and they were living…
The Legacy of the Laurentic 