Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man:
Leading Seaman William Alfred Joshua Walley was born on 22 August 1905 in Gosport, Hampshire, the elder son of William Joseph Walley and Annie Walley née Black. His father was a Serjeant in the Royal Marines. The 1911 census returns show him, his mother and younger brother Leslie, at his mother’s parents home at 24 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, whilst his father was at 19 Brougham Street, Gosport.
On 21 January 1921 he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy II rating and on 22 August 1923, his 18th birthday, he signed on for 12 years service. His service number was C/J100527. On 17 April 1927 he married Gertrude Ada Rayner at St Paul’s Church, Shadwell and they went on to have 3 girls and a boy. On the expiration of his 12 years service he was demobilised as a Leading Seaman and was transferred into the Royal Fleet Reserve, service number RFR Ch/B23711. He was awarded the RFR Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. In January 1938 he was appointed as a Postman in the London Postal Region. Electoral registers show his family living at 37F Juniper Street, Shadwell in 1938 and at 31G Juniper Street in 1939. On 27 August 1939 he was re-mobilised and after various attachments he was finally posted to HMS President III which was the shore based accounting role for the RFR.
On 12 November 1940, aged 35 years, he was serving aboard the S.S. Argus, a Trinity Lighthouse tender, when it struck a mine in the Thames Estuary and sunk with all 34 persons aboard. As his body was not found he is commemorated on Panel 35.1 of the Chatham Naval Memorial. His widow was later to receive an MBE in the Birthday Honours List of 1951 for services as the Honorary Officer in charge of the Stepney Savings Centre.
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