William James Terlour SGM, MiD
Royal Navy
by Robert Simpson
William James Terlour was born on 28th April 1886 at Lambeth, London, England and was baptised on 19th May 1886 in the Parish of St Mary Lambeth. He was a son to William Terlour and Mary Ann Rea who had married in December 1881 in Pancras. William had been born on 22nd January 1850 in London and had served in the navy, joining as a boy from 22nd January 1868, volunteering for 10 years. He had signed a Continuous Service Engagement, going on HMS Fisgard on 19th November 1864 as a Boy 2nd Class. He was 5 foot 3 inches tall, had a fresh complexion with black hair and hazel eyes. In the 1871 census, he was on HMS Repulse at Queensferry in Scotland as an Able Seaman. He served to October 1877, on a few different ships, but his character went from very good to good and he was sent to London to undergo a sentence of Court Martial. He was sentenced to HM Prison Pentonville for 5 years for Petty Larceny from 13th February 1878. In 1881, he had been transferred to Millbank Prison; as he was listed in the 1881 census as William Trelour, born 1850 in London Middlesex with an occupation as AB Seaman Royal Navy. William James was one of nine children to them, with three boys in total and six being girls. William’s parents were James Henry Terlour and Sarah Ann Rudland. They had been married on 31st March 1858 in St Luke, Finsbury. It would seem they had their children before getting married. James was a son to Abednego Terlour (1781-1864) and Betsey Rundle (1787-1864), who were married in 1809. Abednego was a senior shipbuilder in the Royal navy Dockyards at Plymouth and lived at 15 High Street, Plymouth for many years. He was listed as a shipwright in the 1841 census, and after retiring from the navy; a clothier in the 1851 census and a haberdasher and outfitter in the 1861 census. The West of England Conservative of 17th March 1847 had an item about the Dockyard – “There was a general muster of the artisans and workmen belonging to the establishment on Saturday, at 4 o’clock, before the superintendent Rear Admiral Sir John Louis, Bart. During the past week, in compliance with intimation from the master Shipwright, a number of the inspectors and leading men of shipwrights, joiners and caulkers, have sent to the heads of the several departments, specimens of their proficiency in arithmetic and writing. This has been done in order to carry out the intentions of the Admiralty in the new regulations.” The article went on to say that Abednego Terlour had been superannuated at 24 pounds per year. An advertisement was placed in The Western Daily Mercury, Tuesday 30th June 1863 stating “ RARE OPPORTUNITY – To be Let, the Shop and Premises No. 16, High-street, Plymouth, together with the STOCK and BUSINESS of an Outfitter and Haberdasher: the same having been carried on by the present proprietor for 27 years, and being about to retire. – Apply to Mr. Terlour, on the premises. Possession immediately.” Abednego died on 13th October 1864 of pneumonia in Plymouth, his record stating he was 85 years old and a Chelsea Pensioner. Probate of his will in 1864 was for effects under 300 pounds and stated “The Will of Abednego Terlour late of Plymouth in the County of Devon Superannuated Shipwright deceased who died 12 October 1864 at Plymouth aforesaid…” Betsey had died on 5th September 1864, also of pneumonia. There is some indication that his surname was originally Sarah, with his father Abednego Sarah and his mother Sarah Treloor. Why he changed his surname to his mother’s maiden name is not known. James Henry Terlour had been born in October 1815 and died on 23rd September 1864 and his wife Sarah had been born about 1818 in Suffolk. No record can be found for her death. James Henry Terlour was a master wood carver, who had been taught woodcarving from his father and had worked with him. For some reason, in the 1861 census the family had changed their surname to Williams. Again, the reason is not known. When James Henry Terlour died, he left his wife as a widow with five children. She could not obviously cope with that; a death for her cannot be found. It is known that one of the children, Emily Terlour, born 21st March 1857, was elected on 31st May 1865 to, and admitted to the Royal Albert Orphan Asylum on 6th July 1865. She was put there by her mother. Her term there expired on 21st March 1872 and she left there on 2nd April 1872. On 8th October 1872, she boarded the ship Royal Dane as a free immigrant, bound for Australia. She arrived in Queensland on 16th January 1873. Emily married William Henry Bright on 5th October 1874 in Queensland. They lived in Brisbane, where William was a storekeeper. He previously was engaged in the construction of the Telegraph Line at Roma and in the construction of the Railway Line from Dalby to Miles and Drillham in Queensland before settling in Brisbane. Emily passed away on 24th April 1913 and is buried in Saint Matthews Anglican Cemetery in Sherwood with her husband.
Emily Terlour
With thanks to Australian Cemeteries Index
The 1890 Electoral Roll has William living in a house at 6 China Square in Lambeth. The census of 1891 confirms their address, with William a hospital servant, living with Mary, Eliza and William. In the 1901 census, they had moved to 9 China Square, with William a bricklayer’s labourer, Eliza a pattern card mounter and William and errand boy at the port. The 1911 census shows them living at 2 China Square, with William, Mary Ann and their three daughters there. He was a scaffolder, Emily was a kitchen hand, Caroline a dressmaker and Ivy was at school. William died in 1936 in Wandsworth, London, with Mary Ann dying in the same place in 1940. They were living at 75 Coteford Street according to the 1936 electoral roll.
The baptism of William James Terlour was held at Lambeth St Mary on 19th May 1886 by Curate R Grimstone. They were living at 51 Canterbury Place and William was noted as an assistant at St. Thomas’ Hospital. His date of birth was also recorded.
William James Terlour signed up for the navy on 28th April 1904 with a period of continuous service engagements of 12 years. He was given the number 219633 Chatham with a P/C of 352532. His occupation was a messenger. He was 5 foot 1 8/10 inches tall, had dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. William had numerous tattoos; figure of man and two crosses on the left arm, two anchors tattooed on back of hand, sailor on mast, girls head and butterfly tattooed on right forearm.
His naval record reads:-
219633
William James Terlour
Date of birth 28 Apr 1886
Place of birth Lambeth London
Occupation Messenger
P/c 352532 – not sure what this number is for, maybe pay number?
Date and period… 28 Apr 1904 for 12 years
Age height f in hair eyes complexion
BE (Boy Enlistment) 5 1 8/10 Dark brown blue fresh
18 5.5 all ditto
Wounds etc – Figure of man, two crosses left arm, two anchors Tattooed back of hand, sailor on mast Girls head and butterfly tattooed right forearm
Ship Rating Sub ratings from to Badges Period of service from to Character discharged
| Boscawen | B2 | Tm | 18.9.05 | 5.4.06 | G1 28.4.07 | 10 Feb 02 | |||
| “ | B1 cl | ActSG | 6.4.06 | 11 Nov 02 | 13 Feb 03 | ||||
| Minotaur | “ | TM | 1.8.06 | 21.7.07 | D1 23.7.09 | 14 Feb 03 | 7 May 03 | ||
| Agincourt | “ | SG | 22.7.07 | 8 May 03 | 23 Sept 03 | ||||
| Mildura | “ | SG | 24.9.14 | R1 31.3.18 | 24 Sep 03 | VG | |||
| “ | Ord | 28 Apr 04 | 13 Sep 04 | VG | |||||
| Wallaroo | “ | 14 Sep 04 | 16 Apr 05 | VG | |||||
| Clio | 17 Apr 05 | VG | |||||||
| “ | AB | 18 Sep 05 | 31 Jul 06 | VG | |||||
| Argonaut | “ | 1 Aug 06 | 8 Oct 06 | G | |||||
| Pembroke I | “ | 9 Oct 06 | 26 Feb 07 | ||||||
| Wildfire | “ | 27 Feb 07 | 23 Jul 07 | ||||||
| Pembroke I | “ | 24 Jul 07 | 18 Aug 07 | ||||||
| Natal | 9 Aug 07 | 5 Oct 09 | 5 days cells | ||||||
| Natal | 11 Oct 09 | 8 Apr 10 | VG | Run Portland | |||||
| Pembroke I | AB | 28 Aug 14 | 27 Sep 14 | VG | ? | ||||
| Agamemnon | 28 Sep 14 | 11 Jan 15 | G Sick | 7 days cells | |||||
| “ | 19 Jan15 | 9 Feb 15 | VG Sat | ||||||
| Lord Nelson | 10 Feb 15 | VG Sat | |||||||
| “ | Ldg Smn | 1 Dec 16 | 19 Sep 17 | ||||||
| Pembroke I | 5 Jan 18 | 25 Feb 18 | |||||||
| Orotava | 26 Feb 18 | 31 Dec 18 | |||||||
| Pembroke I | 1 Jan 19 | 22 Feb 19 | P War G | Demob |
Ranks and appointments –
B2: Boy 2nd Class as an Entry Rank
B1: Boy 1st Class/ Acting Seaman Gunner
Ord: Ordinary Seaman
AB: Able Seaman
SG: Seaman Gunner
TM: Torpedo Man
He was paid Clothing and Bedding Gratuities
Remarks
New S.C. to Natal 4.11.05 Natal? Run 8.4.10 Natal Portland NL of 26.8.14 removed from desertion sent to RN Barracks Chatham Surrendered under amnesty (the word “desertion” crossed out) NL1767/16 Awarded Bronze medal for gallantry on the occasion of the wreck of S.P. No. 183 at Imbros on 20th December 1915. NL17 of 26/1/17 refers to the investiture of above medal. Stamp – for service in land operations see NL 1915/1916 N38415/16 (Eastern Mediterranean Squadron) Mentioned in Despatches as per London Gazette of 15 May 16 ? also AWO 1048 5.4.16 vide Feb 17 Ledger Vide Mems in June 18 Posted to RD Kingston SC ? 6.22 & run removed NL/3833/23 Ineligible for? 591/23?
Unfortunately, some of the record is illegible. In his naval record, when his character was recorded, it was assessed at the end of the year.
HMS Pembroke was the name given to a shore barracks at Chatham. The Naval Barracks (later HMS Pembroke) opened in 1902.
HMS Lord Nelson
HMS Lord Nelson (1906) and HMS Agamemnon (1906) anchored in Dardanelles in 1915.
HMS Lord Nelson (1906) and HMS Agamemnon (1906) on patrol in Dardanelles 1915.
During the war, he was first on HMS Agamemnon from 28th September 1914. On 14 November 1914 she transferred to Sheerness to guard the English coast against the possibility of a German invasion. She returned to Portland on 30 December 1914 and was employed in the defence of the southern ports of England and patrols of the English Channel until February 1915. On 10th February 1915, he was transferred to HMS Lord Nelson. HMS Lord Nelson was the Royal Navy’s last pre-dreadnought battleship built, just after her sister-ship HMS Agamemnon. In February 1915, Lord Nelson was ordered to the Dardanelles to participate in the Dardanelles Campaign. She departed Portland on 18th February and joined the British Dardanelles Squadron at Mudros eight days later. She took part in the bombardment of the inner forts and supported the initial landings in early March. The Ottoman Turkish forts engaged her heavily on 7th March and hit her several times, including a stone cannonball which landed on the deck and was kept as a souvenir by the Flag Officer, Arthur Baker, (now at Longcross Church). She suffered damage to her superstructure and rigging and was holed by one hit below the waterline which flooded two coal bunkers. After repairs at Malta, the ship returned to take part in the main attack on the Narrows forts on 18th March. Later she bombarded Ottoman field batteries on 6th May prior to the Second Battle of Krithia. Lord Nelson relieved the battleship Queen Elizabeth as flagship of the British Dardanelles Squadron on 12th May, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Rosslyn Erskine-Wemyss. On 20th June, she bombarded docks and shipping at Gallipoli, aided by the spotting of a kite balloon, and inflicted significant damage. Lord Kitchener made his headquarters aboard her in November and, on 22nd December 1915. Lord Nelson hoisted the flag of Vice Admiral John de Roebeck when he succeeded Wemyss. With the end of the Dardanelles Campaign in January 1916 (during which Lord Nelson had suffered no casualties), British naval forces in the area were reorganized and Lord Nelson became flagship of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron. It was redesignated the Aegean Squadron in August 1917. Under either name, the squadron was dispersed throughout the area to protect Allied-held islands, support the British Army at Salonika, and guard against any attempted breakout from the Dardanelles by the German battlecruiser Goeben and light cruiser Breslau. Lord Nelson spent the remainder of the war based at Salonika and Mudros, alternating between the two bases with her sister ship Agamemnon. She was based mostly at Salonika, with Agamemnon mostly at Mudros.
The Third Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday 12th May 1916 has an entry under Monday 15th May 1916 from the Admiralty on 11th May stating “The following awards have been approved in recognition of services rendered by Petty Officers and men of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron between the time of landing in the Gallipoli Peninsula in April, 1915, and the evacuation in December, 1915 – January, 1916:- The following Petty Officers and men have been mentioned in despatches by the Vice-Admiral Commanding the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron for good services in action during the period above referred to:- Able Seaman William James Terlour, O.N. 219633.”
The Western Daily Times of 19th April 1916 had an article “The King has been pleased to award the Bronze Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea to William James Terlour, Able Seaman, of his Majesty’s ship “Lord Nelson,” in recognition of his services on the occasion of the wreck of steam pinnace No. 183 at Imbros on the night of December 20th, 1915.” The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury had a similar article published on the day before and it also mentioned others who were also awarded that medal on the occasion of the wreck of the steamship Glenroy at West Hartlepool.
An article in The Evening Telegraph and Post of 28th November 1917 read “THE KING DECORATES 263 RECIPIENTS Of Naval and Military Honours. The King held an investiture at Buckingham Palace today, when he personally decorated 263 recipients of naval and military and Board of Trade honours.” “The honours also included the Board of Trade Medal awarded to William Terlour, able-bodied seaman of the Royal Navy, for gallantry in saving life at sea.”
A photo was taken when the ship he was on was in the Dardanelles, in February 1918, of William boxing against an opponent. In the photo, William is wearing black shoes, on the left.
H.M.S. Orotava was a commercial liner converted for use as an Armed Merchant Cruiser in the Royal Navy. She was armed with five 6-inch guns and two 6-pounder H.A. guns. She was commissioned on 17th December 1914 and was decommissioned on 1st January 1919. The Orotava was converted to a Seaplane Tender about November 1916. Before that she was part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, from December 1914 to October 1916 with the Northern Patrol.
The most prominent employment of Armed Merchant Cruisers was in the creation of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, used to maintain the blockade of the North Sea, its patrol area extending from the Norwegian coast far into the Atlantic and covering all approaches to the European continent from a northerly direction. In so doing they relieved twenty or more regular Navy cruisers for other duties. Forty-one different converted passenger ships served with the Squadron for some length of time, each armed with guns up to 6-inch calibre. The 10th Cruiser Squadron was finally paid off on 7th December, 1917. After being converted, she was off West Africa and in the Southern Atlantic from November 1916 to November 1917. William joined the Orotava on 26th February 1918. She still must have been in the same area, as there is a record on the 4th May 1918 of the Chief Steward of the Orotava drowning, and on the 15th May 1918 another ship sights and passes the Orotava and a convoy. The position given was off the West Africa coast off Senegal, in the middle of the Atlantic. He was with her until the end of 1918, and then returned to England.
On 11th September 1918, William married Emily Ada Hughes. Emily was listed as a widow, with her father’s name as Sidney Brown (deceased). He was a salesman. Her address was 5 Natal Road, Thornton Heath and she was 33 years old. William was listed as a 32 year old bachelor, a Leading Seaman, with his residence at the time of marriage as 2 China Square, St. Albans St, Hennington Rd. His father, William Terlour, was a bricklayer. They were married at St Paul’s Church in Thornton Heath, Surrey, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England by Licence, by Reginald French. Emily had been previously married James Frederick Hughes on 29th September 1910 at St Clement Danes. In the 1911 census, James was a GPO Telephonist. James served in the First World War and was Sergeant 10995 with the 7th Battalion London Regiment when he was killed in action on 13th November 1916 at Beaumont Hamel in France. In the Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his widow and sole legatee, Emily was paid 6 pounds 10 shillings and a penny and then a war gratuity of 11 pounds 10 shillings, with her name recorded as Emily Terlour for that payment. James service number was recorded as G/10995. His Medal Index Card shows he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. There is some confusion with the card as it has him with the 3rd Royal Fusiliers, first as Acting Corporal G/10955, then Sergeant GS/10995 and stated he embarked for France on 6th March 1915. From one of his Medal Rolls, it appears he was with the 3rd Royal Fusiliers from 7th March to 28th May 1915, then he was with the 7th Battalion from 23rd July 1915 until his death. He may have been wounded in between those two dates. Unfortunately it seems his service record was destroyed, so that cannot be confirmed. It looks like his 15 Star was altered on 23rd August 1921, to his rank of Acting Corporal, from Private, and it also states that the Officer in Charge of Records requested the authority to dispose of the medals on 3rd October 1921 and again on 1st January 1922. His parents were Sarah Ann Terlour and Henry Hughes, who had been married at Old St. Pancras Church in December 1873. Sarah was the sister of William Terlour.
St Paul’s Church in Thornton Heath
Leading Seaman W J Terlour 219633 was awarded the Star Victory and British War medals on shore. Able Seaman William James Terlour, O.N. 219633 was Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 15th May 1916, page 4833, and was entitled to the Victory medal which was issued to him on 10th November 1920. William is recorded in the Navy Lists of 1916 and 1919 under Board of Trade medals for Men of the Royal Navy who have been awarded medals for gallantry in life saving at sea by H.M. The King, on the recommendation of the President of the Board of Trade. He was listed as Able Seaman William J. Terlour. The date of the vote was April 1916 for the Bronze Medal.
William enlisted in the Royal Air Force on 22nd April 1919 as A.C.2 329086. His record shows he was born on 28th April 1886 in Lambeth London. His religious denomination was Church of England. His current engagement of H. M. Force was for the RAF for 1 year (approximately) and his age on enlistment was 33. Up until 22nd February 1919, he was a Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy. He has a marriage certificate that showed he was married on 11th September 1918 at Thornton Heath. His wife, Emily Terlour, was to be informed of casualties and her address was 5 Natal Rd, Thornton Heath. William was 5 foot 6 ¼ inches tall, and had a chest measurement of 33 inches. There was no description for his complexion, eye or hair colour. On his medical examination, he was given the result Medical Category “A” on enlistment. His trade classification on enlistment was M. B. Coxswain. William was promoted to Flight Corporal on 23rd April 1919. He was at Halton Camp on enlistment, M.T.D. Sandbanks on 26th April 1919, Gosport on 5th May 1919, Felixstowe on 25th November 1919 and Halton Disposal Centre on 12th March 1920. He was discharged on 21st March 1920, with 335 days total service towards current engagement and to pension. A stamp saying “CENSUS Stat Jan. 1920” noted he was at RAF Felix. He was discharged under AMWO1473 para. XXVA Authority 180 300/20/H2 of 5/5/20. Another entry says from unit STT Boys to unit M Squadron on 15th March 1922. On the side of the document is a list of 4 children, but their surname is all Hughes and they were born between 1911 and 1919, so presumably an entry that should have been written on another page.
William and Emily had two children, Gwendoline Joan and Frank William. Gwendoline was born in late 1919 in Croydon. She married Leslie Harold May in the third quarter of 1940. They had two children, Alan L May in 1942 and Lesley Christine May in 1946. All the family, except Alan, embarked on the John Holt at Lagos, Nigeria and arrived and disembarked at Dover on 26th June 1956. They were going to stay at 31 Kenrick Square Bletchingley Surrey for 5 months on vacation. Their passports showed them as English citizens, but they were last living and intended to live in Nigeria as their permanent residence (apart from Lesley who had unknown in the country of intended future permanent residence). Leslie was an engineer. Gwendoline and Leslie returned to England on 15th December 1959 on the Winneba, in first class. They were going to stay at the same address for 4 months before returning to Nigeria. After that, no record of them can be found, apart from a probate record in 1945. A widow, Winifred Jessie Taylor of 3 Ketchill Gardens, Hayes Kent, who died on 11th July 1944, left her estate to “Emily Ada Terlour (wife of William James Terlour)”. Frank William Terlour was born on 1st October 1921 in Croydon. He arrived at Southampton with his wife Nancy on RMMV Carnarvon Castle in first class on 11th December 1953 from Durban. They were both 32 years old, and intended living at 3 Kechill Gardens Hayes, Kent. Their country of last permanent residence was South Rhodesia, but they intended on making England their future residence. Frank was a bricklayer. Nancy was born on 21st August 1924 according to her death record. The London electoral registers show they were living at the same address in 1964 and 1965. Frank passed away on 17th February 1992 in Ashford, Kent. He was living at 60 The Fairway Dymchurch Romney Marsh, Kent and left probate of under 125000 pounds. Nancy died in March 2004. Their property at 3 Kechill Gardens is a semi-detached freehold house with 3 bedrooms and was sold in 2009 for 337500 pounds and again in 2015 for 545000 pounds.
Emily Ada Terlour (wife of William James Terlour) inherited the probate of Winifred Jessie Taylor of 3 Ketchill-gardens Hayes, a widow who died on 11th July 1944 at 2 Marion-road Thornton Heath, Surrey with effects of nearly 280 pounds.
William James Terlour passed away on 8th December 1951 at Farnborough Hospital in Kent and his address was 3 Kechill-gardens Hayes in Bromley Kent. His effects of over 400 pounds went to Emily. Emily Ada Terlour passed away on 31st July 1960 in Kent.
With his brothers and sisters:
Sarah Terlour was the eldest, born and died in the July quarter of 1882.
Eliza Ann Terlour was born in the October quarter of 1883 at Somers Town, Middlesex. Nothing else is known of her life, except she did not marry and died in March 1938.
Then William James Terlour was born.
Mary Ann Terlour was born in the January quarter of 1889 in Lambeth Surrey and she passed away in the July quarter of the same year.
Emily Beatrice Terlour was born on 4th July 1893 in Lambeth, London. She was baptised on 23rd July 1893 at Lambeth St Mary. In the 1911 census, she was living with her parents and sisters Caroline and Ivy at 2 China Square, Kensington Drive, London. On 3rd August 1913, she married John George Boddy at St Mary Lambeth. John joined the 19th London Regiment as Private 3414 and was sent to France on 9th March 1915 until 6th January 1916. He was later transferred to the 9th Battalion (Queen Victoria Rifles) and renumbered to Rifleman 415134, arriving in France on 5th March 1917 and being discharged on 9th January 1919. He was entitled to the standard WW1 trio. John died in 1958. Emily died in December 1970. They had two children.
Caroline Florence Terlour was born in the January quarter of 1896 in Lambeth Surrey. She married in 22nd June 1918 to Charles Edwin Amos Stevens. Charles (born 1896 in London) was in the Royal Navy, joining on 21st June 1915 as SS 6117 and serving up to 8th October 1919. Charles died in 1965, but it is not known when Caroline did.
Henry Frederick Terlour was born in the April quarter of 1899 in Lambeth and died in the April quarter of 1900.
Ivy Winifred Terlour was born in the April quarter of 1902 in Lambeth and was baptised on 11th May 1902 in Lambeth St Mary. She married Francis Joseph Buckle on 14th November 1920. Francis was an Able Bodied Seaman J 31174 in the Royal Navy. He was invalided in 1925 due to shoulder problems. Unfortunately he did not live much longer, dying in September 1928 in Lambeth. Ivy passed away in February 1987 in Wandsworth, London.
Edgar Frederick John Terlour was born in the October quarter of 1905 in Lambeth, was baptised on 30th November 1905 and died in the March quarter of 1907.
His medals are Bronze Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with oak leaf.