William Aicken Laverty Service Number 218192 Leading Seaman Royal Navy​​​​​​​​​​

William was born on 4 February 1886 in Belfast of parents James and Jane Laverty, of 13 Ravenscroft Street, Belfast.  They had 8 children namely Annie Jane, Mabel, Andrew, Alice, William, Arthur, Daniel and Mary Henrietta.
 
Prior to joining the navy in 1905 William was a rope layer.  William served on a number of vessels.  He was on board the HMS Triumph when torpedoed in the Dardanelles.  He was then appointed to the new ship HMS Laurentic which hit a mine on 25 January 1917 in heavy seas off the Donegal coast causing William’s death.  He was 30 years of age.
 
William’s name is remembered with honour on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, England.
 
(Further details are included in the McQuiston church magazine below)
 
William’s name is included on the Presbyterian Roll of Honour.
 
William’s brother Daniel also served in the Royal Navy and was killed in action during the war.  Another brother Andrew also served in the Royal Navy but survived the war.
​
 
​