William's birth 6 April 1898 was registered at Duthil, son of William (1865-1944) and Ida MacGilvray (1868-1963), Auchterblair Farm, Carrbridge. His parents had married at Boat of Garten, 22 March 1893. William's civilian occupation was a ploughman. 

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Served at: H.M.S.Vivid 1

Service No: J/62859 (Dev)

Period of Service: 05.12.1916 - until death.

Died: Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth. 01.01.1917, aged 18 years

Cause of death: bronchial pneumonia.

Buried: at the family grave Carrbridge Cemetery

Commemorated on: Carrbridge War Memorial

HMS Vivid 1 served as a depot/base ship for the naval barracks at Devonport. It was one of the nominal bases, established for personnel on detached duty and attached to HMS Vivid for accounting purposes. These bases were also named “Vivid".

Vivid 1 was the Seamanship, Signalling and Telegraphy School in Devonport The reason for the ship and the naval establishment having the same name is that prior to 1959, the Naval Discipline Act only applied to Officers and Men of the Royal Navy who were borne or listed in the muster books of one of HM ships of War. Thus all personnel were allocated to a nominal depot ship, even when not actually serving on a proper seagoing warship. This was usually between Drafts or while undergoing Training or promotion/advancement courses.