Royal Navy – HM Yacht Sapphire II
William John Grogan was born at Steyning, Sussex on 3 October 1858. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in July 1871 and was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in October 1877, Lieutenant in June 1882, Commander in January 1895 and Captain in December 1900.
He served on the 1st Class Armoured Battleship HMS Temeraire on the Mediterranean station and placed himself on the retired list on 24 October 1908, being promoted Rear Admiral. He was a former resident of Camberley, Surrey, before moving to Cheltenham in 1912, where he lived at The Priory, Prestbury, originally his parents’ home.
On the outbreak of war he volunteered for active service and on 16 November 1914 was made a Temporary Captain (Royal Naval Reserve). Three weeks before his death he took command of HM Yacht Sapphire ll. He was accidentally drowned when he fell overboard at Portsmouth on 14 March 1915, age 56, and is buried in Cheltenham Borough Cemetery. He left a widow and a son aged 10 and a daughter aged 4. A photograph of him appears in The Graphic of 20 March 1915.
Researched by Graham Adams 28 June 2012
(Information taken principally from ‘Leaving all that is dear – Cheltenham in the Great War’ by Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker).