Able Seaman William James Broom
SS Thamesmede, Mercantile Marine
Died in Military Service
Date of Birth: 1892
Place of Birth: Teignmouth, Devon
Date of Death: 21st February, 1918 aged 26
Buried: Remembered by plaque in St. Michael's Church and on Seafront Memorial, Teignmouth, Devon.
Awarded the Mercantile Marine Medal and the British War Medal
Able Seaman William James Broom age 26.
Born in December 1892, son of John, a fisherman, and Mary Broom of Teignmouth. The 1901 census showed him living with his parents and siblings at Ivy Lane, by 1911 the family had moved to 8 Forester's Row; he was working as a fisherman.
William was shown on the Merchant Seamen's Register working on SS Water Witch and then SS Kingswear during 1912.
![Photograph of foreside of bridge of S. S. Thamesmede May 11th. 1918. Where from - Straight of Gibralter, Dest. Bordeux [Bordeaux], France. Photo J. Boyd Dearborn. Public Domain](/images/the-fallen/broom-wj-thamesmede.jpg)
Foreside of bridge of S. S. Thamesmede 1918.
Photo J. Boyd Dearborn. Public Domain
Whilst serving on board SS Thamesmede, William's death was registered at position 49.50 N, 20.18 W on 21 February 1918. (This position was in the middle of the North Atlantic.)
The reason for his death is shown in the following statement dated 8 April 1918, signed by the Master of SS Thamesmede and attached to the death return in the official log book. He has a war medal card.
"the death of the above seaman was due to suicide during temporary insanity brought about by typhoid on the high seas".
William is listed on the WW1 Men who died at Sea record. Remembered by plaque in St. Michael's Church and on Seafront Memorial, Teignmouth, Devon.
