William Mylrea Livsey

Rank:2nd Lieut
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:05th ('A') Reserve Bde
Name of Rgt or Ship:Royal Field Artillery
Died:02/06/1917Age:27
How Died:Drowned
Country of burial:IrelandGrave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Cornamagh Cemetery, Co. Westmeath, Ireland
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born during the March quarter 1890 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/891, the
eldest son of William Robert & Margaret Augusta Livsey (nee Mylrea). 
Baptised at Moss Side, Manchester on the 23rd February 1890.

1891 Census - 45 Hampden Street, Ardwwick, Manchester.   Son - aged: 1 -
born: Manchester.   Head of household - William R. Livsey - Married - aged:
28 - occ: Cashire & Traveller - born: Manchester.   Also Margaret A. Livsey
- Wife - aged: 23 - born: Isle of Man.

1901 Census - 13 Lime Grove, Lonsight, Manchester.   Son - aged: 11 - born:
Manchester.   Head of household - William R. Livsey - Married - aged: 37 -
occ: Commercial Clerk - born: Manchester.   Also Margaret A. Livsey - Wife
- aged: 32 - born: Isle of Man.  Plus 4 younger siblings and 1 domestic
servant.

1911 Census - 22 Frewland Avenue, Stockport.   Son - aged: 21 - occ:
Insurance Clerk - born: Manchester.   Head of household - William Robert
Livsey - Married - aged: 47 - occ: Cashier - born: Manchester.   Also
Margaret Augusta Livsey - Wife - aged: 43 - born: Isle of Man.  Plus 3
younger siblings (one had died).

Married Florence Maud Sanderson at St. Michael's P.C. Flixton on the 26th
August 1913, the marriage being registered during the September quarter in
the Barton upon Irwell R.D. - ref: 8c/1406.  Her father George Christhop
Sanderson was a Dispensing Chemist who died in 1895, aged: 60.   William &
Florence had a son - William Sanderson Livsey - born durung the September
quarter 1915 in the Barton upon Irwell R.D. - ref: 8c/1087.    In 1911,
Florence was also listed as a 26 year old Insurance Clerk - probably where
they met?

The 25th Bty, 26th Bty, & 27th Bty, RFA (part of the 5th Brigade), were
stationed at Athlone, Ireland.

Three young officers left Athlone on Saturday night for a sail on the River
Shannon at Lough Reservoir - the second largest expanse of water on the
River.       The weather changed and they encountered a squall which
capsized their boat in the middle of the lake close to Hare Island.    Two
of them became exhausted and sank, the third (their room companion Second
Lieutenant J. E. Pettiway) clung to the boat and was rescued.

2nd Lt.  Austin Gundry Symonds of Congresbury, Somerset was the other
officer who died.

Death reported in the 05/06/1917 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.  There
were very long reports in the Westmeath Independent dated the 9th & 23rd
June 1917.   The burial details from the report are reproduced below, but
the full transcript of the details of the deaths is far too long to be
reproduced here, but is available if wanted.

BURIAL - On Tuesday afternoon the remains of Sec-Lieut Livsey, R.F.A and
Sec Lieut Simmonds who were the victims of the boating accident on Lough
Ree on the 2nd June, were interred with full military honours. The funeral,
which was a very impressive one, left the barracks at 2:30pm from the main
Barrack gate to the outskirts of the town, the townspeople young and old
were lined along the route, in respect to the young officers memory and as
a mark of sympathy with their relatives, the business houses along the
route were closely shuttered, and on the windows of the private residences
the blinds were closely drawn. The remains were carried on separate gun
carriages, each drawn by six horses. The sad procession was led by a double
firing party under the command of Lieut Dickens R.F.A.. The brass and reed
band of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Mullingar followed and played the
funeral march followed by the trumpeters band. Next came the gun carriage
with the remains of Sec-Lieut Livsey drawn by six black horses and six of
his brother officers, one of whom was Lieut Pettiway (the survivor of the
tragedy) forming a guard of honour. The coffin was covered with the Union
Jack, over which a number of beautiful wreaths of natural flowers were
laid. The wreaths were sent by Mrs Livsey (Widow), Mr Livsey (Father) and
Master Livsey (Brother), the Officers of the local garrison R.F.A, the
Sergeants of the garrison and the Corporals of the garrison. The chief
mourners who were immediately after the gun carriage were Mrs Livsey,
Urmston, Manchester (Widow), Mr Livsey, (Father) Bury, Manchester, Master
Harold Livsey, (Brother), do, and Mr C. Sanderson, Urmston, Manchester
(Brother in Law). 

Florence never remarried and in 1939 was residing at 84 Talbot Road,
Stretford.  Her date of birth given as the 28th March 1885 - Widow - occ:
Unpaid Domestic Duties.    Florence later moved to north Wales and died
there in the Bangor R.D. during the September quarter 1956, aged: 71.  The
1957 Probate records state that Florence Maud Livsey of "Strathmore", West
Shore, Llanfairfechan died on the 28th September 1956 - admin given to
William Sanderson Livsey.  Effects: £7,304.  He died in 1962, aged: 46.h

I am most grateful to Peter Clarke for much of this information.

Memorials found on:
Similar Names