206796 Lt. William Thomas Walmsley MIDRoyal Naval Reserve HMS Drake My father, Walmsley was born in November 1890 and I know very little about his service in WWI. He went to HMS Excellent to train as a gunnery officer and I believe he also worked on paravanes. He subsequently served on HMS Drake and HMS King Alfred. My brother had my father's medals but I could not find them when he died. I also believe that there were Oak Leaves on two of the ribbons but this is only a childhood memory.
My father was with the Bibby Line as Chief Officer after WWI but was without a ship from 1927 due to the 'slump'. Unfortunately I was born in 1931 which added to my parents misery and I believe he did not get a ship until later that year. He also had to take a lower rank. It was a case of 'take it or leave' My father and all his crew were killed during the second world war whilst running the Atlantic which was awash with U-boats. He was then Captain of the Shell Tanker MV Anadara. He was torpedoed in the morning of 24th February 1942 and later torpedoed and fired on until she started to sink. No prisoners were taken.
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