WILLIAM FREDERICK MINERS
(Bill)
1899 – 1970
Bill was born in Holsworthy in February 1899 to Frederick Miners and Mary Paddon. He had two sisters Gwendoline and Dorothy and one brother Samuel.
Bill attended Widecombe School between 1906 and 1912, and the family are listed as living at Windwhistle Cottages, Widecombe.
Just a few days after his 18th birthday in 1917, William enlisted in the Royal Navy. Following his basic training at HMS Vivid at Devonport he was posted to HMS Cassandra. In 1918 after the Armistice had been signed HMS Cassandra was in the Baltic Sea when she struck an uncharted mine.
The ship sank very quickly but accompanying destroyers were able to save 327 of the Cassandra’s crew and only 11 men perished. Bill Miners was amongst those rescued. He was demobilised in February 1919.
In 1922 Bill married Olive Collins.
After his demob, Bill worked for the Rural District Council before setting up a haulage contracting business with his brother Samuel.
William was a keen athlete and member of the village Tug-of-War team, later becoming coach. He was equally known as a keen bell ringer and captained the Widecombe Tower for many years.
William died in April 1970 and is buried in Widecombe Churchyard amongst many members of his family.
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