William Bowman Jeffries was born in West Hartlepool on 29th Sep 1891 and his parents were Alexander, from Duns Berwickshire and Jane (nee Ferguson), who had been born in Darlington. His parents were married in Hartlepool in 1889, Alexander's parents, Adam and Janet, having brought their family to Hartlepool where Adam was a joiner.
In 1911, William Bowman was a general labourer in the sawmills and lived with his widowed mother Jane and his grandmother Sarah Ferguson in Stainton Street. His father Alexander had died in 1909.
In January 1914, William married Sarah Llewellyn and they lived at 40, Casebourne Road, West Hartlepool.
On 31st May 1916, William was on board HMS Queen Mary, the last battle cruiser built for the Royal Navy before the 1st War. He was a stoker and the ship was taking part in the Battle of Jutland when it was hit twice by the German battle cruiser Derfflinger causing it to explode.
Although there were 18 survivors, a massive 1266 men lost their lives, including William Bowman. His name is on the Chatham Memorial and his wife Sarah was informed of her husband's death. Sarah later remarried , became Mrs Olds and moved to Middlesbrough.
