Petty Officer William Henry Sarahs MC
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMCS Niobe, Royal Navy, ONC/60131, 196799
Died of pneumonia
Date of Birth: October 17, 1880
Place of Birth: Combeinteignhead, Devon
Date of Death: 7 July 1915 aged 34
Buried: Halifax Cemetery, St Johns, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Awarded the Military Cross, the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Petty Officer William Henry Sarahs was born in Combeinteignhead, Devon on October 17, 1880.
His mother was Elizabeth Jane Bowden (1852–1881), she was born in Kingsteignton, Devon.
His father was William Ponsford Sarahs (1849–1910). He was born in Combeinteignhead and is shown on the 1891 Census as an Agricultural Labourer.
| William and his siblings | |
| Eliza Ann Sarahs 1871–1943 |
Ellen Morey Bidder née Sarahs 1874–1955 |
| John Morey Sarahs 1877–1947 |
George Henry Sarahs 1879–1896 |
| William Henry Sarahs 1880–1915 |
|
In 1891, the family were living at the Cottage, Coombe, Haccombe with Combe, Newton Abbot, Devon.
William was 10 years old at that point and living with his widowed father William and brother George.
They had one servant living with them, a 'Housekeeper'.
William was engaged with the Royal Navy for 12 years from 17 October 1898 to 1910. At the time of joining his occupation was listed as 'Baking'.
William's first ship HMS Calliope quarterdeck 1889. De Maus Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library
When William joined the Navy aged 18 he was 5 feet 3 and a 1/2 inches tall (12 years later in 1910 he was 5 feet 8). His hair was brown as were his eyes, he was described as having a fresh complexion with no wounds, scars or tattoos.
The first ship he served on was HMS Calliope, a sailing corvette – the last such ship built for the Royal Navy – her full sail rig was supplemented with a powerful engine. William served on many vessels during his service with the Royal Navy.
On March 9th 1909, William married Alice Kirton of Combeinteignhead at the parish church in Stokeinteignhead.
In 1911, William was staying with his in-laws in Stokeinteignhead, Alicia Kirton, a widow, and her daughters, Mabel and Henrietta.
In February 1914 William joined the Canadian vessel, HMCS Niobe, she was engaged in intercepting German ships along the American coast until July 1915.
William served with HMCS Niobe until he developed pneumonia. He died in a Military Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 7 July 1915. He was aged 34.
Buried in Halifax Cemetery, St Johns, Newfoundland.
Download commemorative certificate (PDF)
 Petty Officer William H Sarahs H.M.C.S. Niobe, Died July 7 1915 Aged 34 |
 William's CWG certificate |
