William Burton Metcalfe

1895 - 1918  (23 years)

• Name	William Burton Metcalfe
  Born	1895	Hampstead, London, England   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Military Service	William Metcalfe joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet on DTBR. He was promoted to Midshipman on 15th Sep 1912 and to Sub Lieutenant on 15th Sep 1914. In December 1914 William Metcalfe was serving in the 23,000 ton Battleship HMS KING GEORGE V (Captain George H Baird, Royal Navy). He had been appointed to that Ship on 7th Mar 1913. His Submarine career began in 1916 when he was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN 'for Submarine Training' (Nominal List dated 1st July 1916). A month later he was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MAIDSTONE (9th Submarine Flotilla) at Harwich 'for Submarine duties'. He was promoted to Lieutenant on DTBR. The Nominal List of 1st Sep 1916 reports an appointment to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS VULCAN (3rd Submarine Flotilla) at Immingham 'for Submarine D8 as First Lieutenant'. In April 1917 Submarine D8 was transferred to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS PLATYPUS. His appointment to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MAIDSTONE (9th Submarine Flotilla) at Harwich 'for Submarine E50 as First Lieutenant' was reported in the Nominal List of 1st Dec 1917. Submarine E50 was lost with all hands in the North Sea on 1st Feb 1918. It is believed that the Submarine hit a mine. Source: Submariner's Association.
  Census	31 Mar 1901	Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England   [1]
  	Age: 6y
  	Address: "Beechcroft", Milton Road
  Died	31 Jan 1918	At Sea   [2]
  	Address: Somewhere is the North Sea, exact location unknown.
  	Lieutenant William Metcalfe was serving aboard the Navy Submarine "E50" which had sailed from Harwich on January 21, 1918 to patrol to the seaward of 54°45'N, 06°15'E and did not return home. There was no contact with her after she sailed. E50 was expected back on January 29, 1918. She's best described as a missing vessel -- the common presumption is that she hit a mine but there doesn't appear to be any specific evidence as to where and when. As such, accidental loss cannot be excluded.
  		METCALFE, Lieut. William Burton: Killed in loss of vessel at sea This clip confirms the loss of William whilst serving on HM submarine E50.
  Buried		CWGC Commemoration: METCALFE, William Burton
  Person ID	I22076	Winterbotham Families
  Last Modified	2 Mar 2015

  
  

  Father	Charles Percival Metcalfe,   b. 1860, Ipswich, Suffolk, England
  Mother	Ethel Ellen Ellis,   b. 1856, St Pancras, London, England ,   d. 4 Feb 1919, Hampstead, London, England  (Age 63 years)
  Married	12 Aug 1890	Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  Family ID	F5347	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 1895 - Hampstead, London, England Census - Age: 6y,Address: "Beechcroft", Milton Road - 31 Mar 1901 - Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England Died - Address: Somewhere is the North Sea, exact location unknown. - 31 Jan 1918 - At Sea  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Exact Location       : Area, Suburb, Parish or Registration District       : City, Town or Village       : County or Shire       : State or Province       : Country or Continent       : Not Defined

  
  

• Sources

  [S8039] Census 1901 Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England RG13/1310/92/43 (Ethel E Metcalfe [Ellis or de Vesian]), (RG13/1310/92/43). [S8040] UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 (Reliability: 3), 16 Nov 2013.