William's Story.
Born in 1896, at Macclesfield. He attended at St Alban’s School and Church. During the First World War he was in the Merchant Navy, and sailed to Russia on a nine months’ trip, the day Armistice was declared. In the Spring of 1926, William married Genevieve Magdalen Mason, at Macclesfield. Before re-enlisting, he was a painter and decorator, and was one of the first local A.R.P. volunteers. In September 1940 he again entered the Merchant Navy; his voyages took him to Alexandria, Palestine, the West Indies, Russia, South Africa and South America. It was on a return trip from Rio de Janeiro, carrying 8500 tons of iron ore, calling in at Trinidad, New York, Halifax, with a destination of Middlesborough, that, at 04.11 a.m. on Sunday, 7 February 1943, a German submarine, U-614, (Wolfgang Strater) fired a spread of three torpedoes at the convoy SC-118, southeast of Cape Farewell. The only ship hit was “Harmala” which sank quickly. The Master, 31 crew members, 10 gunners and one naval signalman were lost, only 11 members survived. The sad news was conveyed to his widow at 78, Bridge Street, Macclesfield, and their three sons, Anthony (15), who was in the Air Training Corps: Leo (13), and Kevin (10). Since 1926, William had been a prominent member of the Liberal Club and a worker for St Alban’s Church.
Chief Steward/Cook, William Donnelly has no known resting place, and he is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Researched by H.A.G. Carlisle, picture of William courtesy of Kevin Donnelly.