William Thomas Orley died of illness while serving aboard the hired minesweeping trawler HMS Island Prince and his death was registered at South Shields. He is buried in Hartlepool North Cemetery. Service No.5062/ES.
William Thomas Orley junior was born at Scarborough on December 28th, 1877, the son of William Thomas and Margaret Orma Orley.
The 1891 Census shows William (a Navvy, born Scarborough), and Margaret (born Filey), living at No.218, St. Cuthbert's Road, Gateshead, with 12-year old William junior and 3-year old Betsy Anne.
The 1901 Census records William as a boarder at Greenland Cottages Hartlepool and, at 22, was a Hand Driller in Marine Boiler Shop. In 1902, William married Hartlepool-born Rose Ann Smith (or possibly Thorpe), a Milliner, in Hartlepool.
The 1911 Census records the couple living at No.42, Perth Street, West Hartlepool, with their 7-year old daughter Lillian. Another one of their children had died in childhood.
William's wife Rose was remarried in Hartlepool in early 1918 to Edgar Thorpe and their address was given as No.5, Fountain Terrace, West Hartlepool. An alternative recorded address is 42 Gray Street, West Hartlepool.
