G42 WILLIAM HENRY LEONARD

G042 WILLIAM HENRY LEONARD. Artificer Engineer 270845 Royal Navy on HMS Russell. Born 17 February 1877 at Plymouth, Devon to Luke Thomas and Nancy Lavinia Leonard nee Barney. 1881 residing with his parents and siblings at Milton Street, Plymouth. 1891 still with his parents and siblings now at Cobourg Buildings, Plymouth, occupation aged 16 years blacksmith apprentice. 1901 with his wife, Florinda and his two daughters at the home of in-laws Samuel and Elizabeth Barrett at Southside Street, Plymouth occupation, blacksmith. Enlisted 25 November 1902 on HMS Vivid II. Civilian occupation, engine smith. Died 28 April 1916 aged 41 years from an explosion when his ship ran into a mine on the 27 April which was laid by German Submarine U73. Husband of Florinda Leonard, of 17 Prospect Street, Plymouth.

At rest in Plot G Grave 42, Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.

The following extract creditied to Aquilina Kevin -
While manoeuvring outside the harbour, she struck 2 mines laid by German mine laying submarine U-73 (Cdr. Gustav Siess) on the 23-04-1916. U-73 laid 22 mines at about 50m. a part in front of Grand Harbour before proceeding to Cattaro. Before sinking, the RUSSELL floated for 20 minutes before capsizing, her huge hull showing above the water before being engulfed by the waves. 126 sailors died and 625 were saved including the Admiral and the Captain. Mysteriously, several survivors died days later of gas poisoning.