William Henry Prentice was born in Hartlepool in 1882.
The 1901 Census records him living with his parents, William Henry and Mary Prentice, at No.94, Sandringham Road, West Hartlepool, together with six brothers and one sister: Robert (aged 17), Apprentice Engineer; Thomas (14), Telegraph Messenger; Frederick (13); Albert (10); Evelyn (6); Clifford (4); and 1-year old Gordon.
By the outbreak of the First World War, William was living with his wife, Margaret Ann Prentice (nee Bruce), at No.42, Kimberley Street West Hartlepool.
William was 1st Mate on the steamship Beeswingwhen she sailed from the Tyne on March 2nd, 1915. Bound for Dieppe with a cargo of coal, she was not heard from again, and it was presumed the ship had been mined or torpedoed with the loss of all 21 crew. His father, also named William Henry and who was Master of the Beeswing, was also lost.
