Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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C/SSX 22261   Telegraphist William Frederick Noble
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 14/10/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: HMS Liverpool, Royal Navy (British Navy)
Died: 14/10/1940 (Died at Sea)
Age: 22
Summary      
William Frederick Noble was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Noble He was born about 1920. William Noble served with the Royal Navy in World War Two. He served as a telegraphist on board H.M.S. Liverpool. On Monday 14th October 1940, HMS Liverpool was part of a convoy escort in the Mediterranean. Around 7pm, HMS Liverpool was struck by a torpedo Telegraphist William Frederick Noble was one of 27 men who died in the attack. A heavily damaged HMS Liverpool made its way to Alexandria in Egypt.
Further Information
William Frederick Noble was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Noble He was born about 1920.
William Noble served with the Royal Navy in World War Two. He served as a telegraphist on board H.M.S. Liverpool.
HMS Liverpool - World War Two
On Monday 14th October 1940, HMS Liverpool was part of a convoy escort in the Mediterranean. At 1911 hours, HMS Liverpool reported that she had been struck by a torpedo in position 33°58’E, 26°20’E at 1855 hours. She was heavily on fire and required assistance.
Telegraphist William Frederick Noble died in the attack. He was 22 years old.
Telegraphist William Noble was one of 27 men who died in the attack. A heavily damaged HMS Liverpool made its way to Alexandria in Egypt where he was buried.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th October 1940:
Intimation has been received by Mr and Mrs Henry Noble, Coolhill, Dungannon, that their eldest son, William Frederick Noble, who was a telegraphist in the Royal Navy, has been killed in action.
HMS Liverpool was repaired and returned to service in April 1942.
1945
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 29th September 1945: Telegraphist Stanley Noble (Brother of Telegraphist William Frederick Noble)
The joyful news of the safety of another Dungannon man who had been a prisoner in Japanese hands was received by his parents on Friday evening. He is Telegraphist Stanley Noble, Royal Navy, second son of Mr and Mrs H Noble, Coolhill, Dungannon, who received a telegram from the Admiralty stating that he has been released from a Jap prison camp at Pelambang, Sumatra, and is in safe Allied hands. He was a prisoner since the fall of Singapore. Prior to volunteering he wa on the clerical staff of Dungannon Post Office. His elder brother, Fred (Royal Navy), was killed in the Mediterranean in October 1940, and his younger brother Harry, who was also on the Dungannon Post Office clerical staff, is at present serving in the Fleet Air Arm; he arrived home on leave on Saturday – Tyrone Courier and News.
Memorials
Unusually, Telegraphist William Noble has a grave and is buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery. His inscription reads: NO MORNING DAWNS, NO NIGHT RETURNS BUT WE REMEMBER.
Telegraphist William F Noble is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and also on the World War Two stained glass memorial in St Anne’s Church Of Ireland in Dungannon.
The CWGC record Telegraphist William Frederick Noble as the son of Henry and Elizabeth Noble, of Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Coolhill Dungannon Town South Paper lists parents at Coolhill 54.495274 -6.737974
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 Uboat.net - HMS Liverpool Details of HMS Liverpool
2 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Telegraphist William Noble's gravestone can be purchased here
3 Wikipedia - HMS Liverpool (C11) Details of U-Boat attack on HMS Liverpool
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023