Surname:	McPherson
Forename(s):	William Munro
Rank:	Naval Gunner RNVR
Service number:	Clyde/Z8185
Regiment:	SS War Knight
Date of death:	24 March 1918 Aged 20
Place of death:	At sea – Mine explosion in English Channel
Buried Commemorated	At Sea Portsmouth Naval Memorial – Panel 31

Background

William was born on 29 July 1897 in Kingussie. William’s parents were Donald McPherson, Master Shoemaker, aged 29 of High Street, Kingussie and Elizabeth Munro, Domestic Servant, aged 27, of 5 Culduthel Road, Inverness. They were married on 29 June 1894 at 16 Tomnahurich Street, Inverness. 

In the 1911 census William was living at High Street, Kingussie, son of Donald McPherson shoemaker. Family name is spelt McPherson and sometimes MacPherson. Donald had two younger brothers, Murdo and Duncan and three younger sisters Helen, Elizabeth and Christina who were all born in Kingussie. William is also remembered on the family gravestone at Kingussie Cemetery.

War Record

On 24 March 1918 William was aboard SS War Knight, steamship which was mined and beached in English Channel and destroyed by fire. In addition to William the naval casualties were
Joseph Gerrity, Able Seaman, RNVR, Tyneside is remembered at Chatham Naval Memorial and
George Tucker, Petty Officer, RNR, is remembered at Plymouth Naval Memorial.

William is remembered on Portsmouth Naval Memorial and also on the Kingussie War Memorial, Kingussie and Insh Memorial in Kingussie Parish Church and St Andrew’s United Free Church Memorial now in Kingussie Parish Church