Person:William McFadden (8)

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William "Big Willie" McFadden (1876-1948) was an Irish boxer and World War I veteran who served in the Royal Marine Artillery from 1893-1919. He was two-time heavyweight champion of the British Army and Navy and fought professionally through 1914. During the war, he survived the sinking of the HMS Hogue and saw action at the Battle of Jutland aboard the HMS Warspite. He was also singled out in 1903 as the most accurate gunner in the British Navy.

Birth and Early Life

William McFadden was born March 6, 1876 near Creeslough, Co. Donegal to James and Annie (McBride) McFadden.^S1 He was the oldest of 14 children. Willie was born in the townland of Kilfad, the home of his mother's family, and grew up on the McFadden homestead in nearby Killoughcarron. Family lore holds that Willie ran away at a young age, only to be brought back by his father. At 17, he left for good and joined the Royal Marines.

The Royal Marine Artillery

Willie enlisted in the Royal Marines on September 28, 1893 at Edinburgh, Scotland.^S3 He transferred into the Royal Marine Artillery a month later and would spend the next 25 years as a "Blue Marine." Willie made his mark as a boxer, twice winning the Army and Navy Heavyweight Championship, and also as a gunner. In 1903, he was singled out to receive a silver medal as the most accurate gunner in the British Navy. His service record noticeably contains two demotions (for reasons unknown), but the fact that Willie was assigned to the original crews of battlecruiser HMS Lion and battleship HMS Warspite, both coveted posts, indicates he was likely still held in high regard by his superiors. Willie served through World War I, surviving the sinking of the HMS Hogue and manning his gun on the Warspite during the Battle of Jutland. He left the R.M.A. on April 17, 1919 at the age of 43.

Service Record

Service Record Notes

• Where no ship is indicated, Willie was stationed at one of the Marine barracks. He appears to have spent most of his time in Portsmouth.
• Willie was 5'9" when he enlisted and 5'11" when he reenlisted in 1905. While these are unremarkable measurements by modern standards, he was a notably large man for his time. The average height of European men in 1900 was about 5'7". The R.M.A. specifically recruited larger men and their minimum height requirements (5'7.5" for a 17-year-old) were 2.5 inches higher than those of the Royal Marines, which may have played a role in Willie's placement. Willie's cousin Big Jim was even taller at 6'2".
• His birth date is given as Feb. 23, 1875, which contradicts his civil birth record. It was not unusual in those days for someone to be unsure of their own birth date, but more difficult to explain is why his place of birth is given as "Rosguill, Letterkenny" instead of Creeslough. His next of kin is listed as "father Js. McFadden, Killoughcarron, Creeslough," so clearly he believed he hadn't been born there, but in Letterkenny. However, he did give his place of birth as Killoughcarron while traveling to America in 1924.
• "23 Aug 1897: Granted hurt certificate, wound of scalp & contusion & wound of rt. foot." No other information on this incident, but "hurt certificates" were only granted for injuries received while on duty.
• Willie passed for sergeant on Oct. 3, 1902 and was given the rank of lance-sergeant by late 1903, but never made full sergeant.

Best Shot in the Navy

In 1902, The Blue Jacket & Coastguard Gazette began annually recognizing the best gunners in the British Navy by awarding silver and bronze "Good Shooting" medals. The gun captain, who led the crew and actually fired the gun, would be awarded a silver medal. The rest of the crew would receive bronze medals. Each medal would be engraved with the recipient's name. The results were based on prize-firing competitions undertaken throughout the British fleet. Willie and his crew received these prestigious medals for their performance aboard HMS Good Hope in 1903. The gun in question was a six-inch Mk VII naval gun.

Western Daily Press (Bristol), Mar. 19, 1904:

"A Blue Book issued yesterday morning gives the result of the prize firing in the Navy for 1903. In a covering note Sir Evan Macgregor intimates that the Lords of the Admiralty have noted with satisfaction the improvement in shooting with nearly all classes of guns. The best record was made by the Majestic among the battleships, and the Good Hope among the cruisers. The best shot in the Navy was Lance-Sergeant McFadden, R.M.A., of the Good Hope, who made 102.488 points with the 6-inch gun."

Globe & Laurel Apr. 7, 1904

"The next best shot after Lce.-Sergt. W. McFadden, of the Royal Marine Artillery, who made the remarkable score of 102'488 points with the 6-in. B.L. gun, is Petty Officer W. Rowe, of the Ariadne, who scored 85'170 points with the 6-in. quick-firer; and the third best Petty Officer R. Sleap, of the Cambrian, who scored 85'170 points with the 4.7in. quick-firer."

The Evening News (Portsmouth), Dec. 5, 1904:

"A medal presented by the editors of the "Bluejacket" for the best shot with heavy guns in cruisers during 1903, and won by Lance-Sergt. McFadden, R.M.A., was presented on parade at Eastney Barracks on Saturday by Col.-Com. J.B. Leefe."

According to the British medal rolls, this medal was re-issued to Willie in 1916 while he was aboard HMS Warspite. It's possible that the original may have been lost in 1914 when Willie's ship the HMS Hogue was sunk by a German torpedo.

Other Medals

• 1914-15 Star Medal
• British War Medal
• Victory Medal

This trio of medals were known as Pip, Squeak, and Wilfred. They were never awarded individually, but were standard offerings to British soldiers and sailors who served during World War I.

Sinking of the Hogue

From Wikipedia:

"The Action of 22 September 1914 was a naval engagement that took place during the First World War, in which three obsolete British Royal Navy cruisers, manned mainly by reservists and sometimes referred to as the "livebait squadron", were sunk by one German submarine while on patrol. Approximately 1,450 sailors were killed, and there was a public outcry at the losses. This incident eroded confidence in the British government and damaged the reputation of the Royal Navy at a time when many countries were still considering which side in the war they might support."

Willie was aboard the Hogue when she went down and his name can be found in the lists of survivors that were circulated by numerous newspapers.^S18 For the period from Sept. 23 through Dec. 12, Willie's service record says "mobilised passage & hospital." Dates added after the initial entry seem to indicate he returned to England on Sept. 28 and was in hospital until his return to active duty on Dec. 13. The delay between the sinking of his ship and his return to England might indicate that Willie was one of the hundreds of men rescued by Dutch merchant ships and taken back to the Netherlands.

The following was published Nov. 16, 1914 in the Derry Journal:

"The many friends and acquaintances of Gunner Willie M'Fadden, R.M. Artillery, H.M.S. Hogue, which was sunk by a German submarine, were much relieved and thankful to hear that he is amongst the saved. In a letter to his parents, M'Fadden says he had a miraculous escape, being picked up after four hours in the water. He is at present in a London hospital, suffering from wounds on the leg, but is nearly convalescent, and hopes to get home for a few days before again taking up duties."

The Battle of Jutland

Willie was manning his gun on the HMS Warspite when she took part in the 1916 Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of World War I. The Warspite was heavily shelled during the fight and 14 of her crew were killed, however she scored numerous hits on German ships and her actions allowed the damaged HMS Warrior to safely retreat. Newspaper reports following the battle show that the crew of the Warspite came away certain of victory and proud of their performance, consistently claiming they had sunk several large German ships. The reports would later be proven inaccurate, but demonstrate the atmosphere aboard the Warspite following the conflict. The Germans were also guilty of overstating an assumed victory and German officials claimed publicly that the Warspite had been sunk.

Boxing Career

The defining feature of Willie's military career was not what he did in uniform, but what what he did in the boxing ring. He was known for his size, strength, and determination.^{S5 S15 S16} These characteristics twice led him to be named heavyweight champion of the British Army and Navy and his grit brought him to the edge of fame. "Gunner McFadden" was a well-known figure on the English boxing circuit. But Willie never quite matched the quality of the top tier of fighters and each of his bouts with established pros like Jack Scales, Gunner Moir and Jem Roche ended in defeat. Still, while Willie was worse than some, he was better than most. To this day, he is remembered in the family not as "Big Willie, the Marine," but as "Big Willie, Boxing Champion of the British Navy."

This is believed to be a photo of Cpl. McFadden (left) defeating Pvt. McLaughlin for the 1902 British Army and Navy Heavyweight Boxing Championship at Aldershot.

Boxing Titles

• Heavyweight Champion of the British Army and Navy, 1900
• Heavyweight Champion of the British Army and Navy, 1902
• Heavyweight Champion of the British Navy, 1904

Boxing Record

The following list has been compiled from various newspaper reports and should by no means be considered complete.^S4 All fights in heavyweight class.

Bayonet Fencing

In addition to being a noted boxer, Willie won medals in several foil and bayonet fencing competitions.

• Took first prize in both foil vs. foil and bayonet vs. bayonet at the Southern District Military Tournament. (Globe & Laurel, May 7, 1901)
• Lost the final of a bayonet vs. bayonet tournament on Feb. 27, 1902 at Portsmouth. (Globe & Laurel, Mar. 7, 1902)
• Team leader of a victorious R.M.A. bayonet combat squad at the Royal Military Tournament, London. (Globe & Laurel, Jul. 7, 1902)
• Member of the R.M.A. bayonet combat team that won at the 25th annual Army Athletic Meeting at Aldershot. "Among their team was McFadden, the renowned boxing man, whose thrusts with the bayonet were so forcible that several of his opponents were completely laid out." (Aldershot News, Aug. 6, 1904)

Recovery of Fencing Medal

In 2014, the bronze medal Willie received for winning the foil vs. foil fencing competition at a district Royal Military Tournament in 1901 was found by the Clayton family of Canvey Island in southeastern England while they were metal-detecting on a beach there. The Claytons decided the following year to seek out Willie's living relatives and the medal was returned to the McFadden family.

Relatives in the Military

• Dominick McFadden, Willie's younger brother, was a stoker in the Royal Navy from 1912-1922.
• Jim Campbell, Willie's first cousin, was seriously wounded at the Battle of Passchendaele while serving with the Australian Imperial Force.
• "Big Jim" McFadden, Willie's first cousin, was a private in the Irish Guards from 1915-1919.
• Denis McFadden, Willie's first cousin, was a private in the U.S. Army from 1917-1919.

Other Notable Relatives

• Willie is the granduncle of Gaelic footballer Colm McFadden.

America

Stories passed down through the family claim Willie lived in New York for a short time while working as a debt collector for some Mafia types. While this remains unsubstantiated, he did come to America. Willie left England on Dec. 3, 1923 headed for Canada with the stated intention of getting work as a miner and settling there permanently.^{S12 S13} His previous address was given as 175 Guildford Rd., Fratton, Portsmouth and his contact was a friend named Leggett, same address. However, Willie attempted to travel from Montreal into the United States less than a month later (and was rejected due to immigration quotas).^S6 It remains unclear why he changed his mind about Canada, or whether he intended to go to America all along.

Willie had several siblings living in both New York and Philadelphia at this time. His stated destination on the Jan. 1924 passenger list was his brother Pat in Philadelphia.

Portsmouth

Having left Creeslough as a teenager, Willie spent the majority of his life in the English city of Portsmouth. Portsmouth has long been an important naval base and it's military significance led to extensive bombing by the Germans during World War II. Willie would have been there during these raids, which killed 930 people and destroyed an estimated 10 percent of Portsmouth homes.

Willie is recorded in the 1939 Register as a general laborer living at 14 Wickham St.. His birthdate was given as March 8, 1879 (presumably because he rounded his age to 60).^S14

Death and Burial

Willie died Jan. 2, 1948 at St. Mary's Hospital in Portsmouth.^S2 He was 71 years old. The cause of death was given as cerebral thrombosis (a stroke) with senile dementia given as a contributing factor. His address was listed as 30 Amelia St., Landport. Willie was buried six days later at Milton Cemetery in Portsmouth.^S7

Corporal McFadden, R.M.A., Champion of the Heavyweights. The Navy and Army Illustrated, published Oct. 18, 1902

Partial list of Hogue survivors. The Birmingham Daily Post, published Oct. 2, 1914

Portsmouth Evening News, published Nov. 15, 1904

London Standard, Sep. 3, 1900

Cpl. McFadden outside Eastney Barracks, 1900

Unconfirmed, but believed to be Cpl. McFadden winning the 1902 Army and Navy Championship, published in "Sports of the World" (1903)

Penny Illustrated, Oct. 6, 1906, "The Heavyweights, McFadden and Framlyn"

The Sporting Life, Sep. 3, 1900

1. ↑ Birth record from the General Register Office, Ireland.

   District: Dunfanaghy
   County: Donegal
   Date of Birth: 6 Mar 1876
   Place of Birth: Kilfad
   Name: William
   Sex: M
   Father: James McFadden
   Mother: Annie McFadden formerly McBride
   Father's Occupation: Farmer
   Informant: Annie McFadden

2. ↑ Death record from the General Register Office, UK.

   District: Portsmouth
   Sub-District: Kingston
   Date of Death: Second January 1948
   Place of Death: St. Mary's Hospital U.D.
   Name: William McFadden
   Sex: Male
   Age: 72 years
   Residence: 30 Amelia Street, Landport, U.D.
   Occupation: Pensioned Gunner Royal Marine Artillery
   Cause of Death: I. Cerebral Thrombosis, II. Senile Dementia
   Informant: E.M. Leyland, Acting Chief Resident Officer, St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth

3. ↑ Service Record from the The National Archives, UK
   ADM 159/27/4976.
4.   Boxing record compiled by Rob McFadden.

   Newspaper sources include The Sporting Life, The Sportsman, The Globe & Laurel, The Portsmouth Evening News, The Navy and Army Illustrated, The Illustrated Police News, The Irish Independent, and others. While this record includes most of Willie's more significant fights, a substantial number of his bouts are likely missing. For starters, next to nothing has been found regarding fleet competitions like the one he won in 1908.

5.   Globe & Laurel, Oct. 7, 1905.

   "First-class Petty Officer Donald had much the best of it with Gnr. McFadden, of the Royal Marine Artillery, in a fight which chiefly displayed the pluck of the loser, who refused to be knocked out, and staggered on to a finish that was loudly cheered."

6.   Ancestry.com. Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956..

   List or Manifest of Alien Passengers Applying for Admission to the United States From Foreign Contiguous Territory
   Per: Canadian Pacific Atlantic SS Co.
   In the month of: Jan 1924
   From the port of: Montreal, Canada
   Status: Rejected (Quota Exhausted)
   Name: William McFadden
   Age: 47
   Gender: Male
   Married or single: S
   Occupation: Laborer
   Nationality: Ireland
   Race: Irish
   Country of residence: England
   City or town of residence: Portsmouth
   Nearest relative: Father James, Killoughcarron
   Final destination state: PA
   Final destination city or town: Phila.
   In United States before: No
   Whether going to join relative or friend: Bro. Patrick, Phila., PA.
   Height: 6'1"
   Hair: Brown
   Eyes: Blue
   Birth Country: Ireland
   Birth City or Town: Killoughcarron
   Port of Landing: St. John
   Date of Landing: 12-??-23
   Name of SS: Melita
   Date of Examination: 1-10-24

7.   Personal correspondence with Portsmouth City Council cemeteries assistant.

   Willie is buried at Sec. M, Row 10, Grave 26. This grave has been reclaimed, meaning Willie is still there but another family now owns the rights to the plot. A stone marking the grave bears the name Nuttall.

8.   1911 Census Returns of England and Wales, in England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), (formerly the UK General Register Office.)).

   Name: William McFadden
   Age in 1911: 36
   Estimated birth year: abt 1875
   Relation to Head: Gunr
   Birth Place: Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland
   Civil Parish: Mediterranean
   County/Island: Royal Navy
   Country: England
   Marital Status: Single
   Registration District Number: 640
   ED, institution, or vessel: HMS Triumph

9.   1901 Census Returns of England and Wales, in England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.).

   Name: William McFaddon
   Age: 25
   Estimated birth year: abt 1876
   Relation to Head: Non Com Officer
   Gender: Male
   Birth Place: Ireland
   Civil Parish: Portsmouth
   Ecclesiastical parish: Milton St James
   Town: Portsmouth
   County/Island: Hampshire
   Country: England
   Registration district: Portsmouth
   Sub-registration district: Kingston and East Southsea
   ED, institution, or vessel: Eastney Barracks

10.   The Evening News (Portsmouth), Nov. 15, 1904.

    

11.   The London Standard, Sep. 3, 1900.

    

12.   Ancestry.com. UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960.

    Ship: Melita
    Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific
    Port: Southampton
    Departure: 3 December 1923
    Destination: St. John, N.B.
    Ticket No.: 47184
    Name: William McFadden
    Last Address: 175 Guildford Rd., Fratton, Portsmouth
    Gender: Male
    Age: 47
    Occupation: Miner
    Last permanent residence: England
    Intended future permanent residence: Canada

13.   Ancestry.com. Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924.

    Ship: Melita
    Date of Sailing: Dec 1923
    Name: William McFadden
    Age: 47
    Sex: Male
    Married: Single
    Present occupation: nil
    Intended occupation: Mining
    Birthplace: Ireland
    Race: Irish
    Citizenship: Irish
    Religion: R.C.
    Object in going to Canada: To settle
    Do you intend to remain permanently in Canada: Yes
    Have you ever lived in Canada: No
    Money in possession: 40
    Can you read: Yes
    What language: English
    By whom passage paid: Self
    Ever refused entry to Canada: No
    Nearest relative in country from which you came: Leggett, friend, 175 Guildford Road, Portsmouth

14.   Findmypast.com. 1939 Register.

    Ref: RG101/2254C/011/30 Letter Code: EBBU
    
    14 Wickham St.
    
    Annie Boyland 11 May 1880 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
    Frances Crosbie (Boyland) 01 Mar 1906 Female Domestic Duties Single
    William Winter 24 Jul 1862 Male None (Old Age Pensioner) Single
    William Mcfadden 08 Mar 1879 Male General Labourer Single
    William I Dinhorne 10 Sep 1892 Male House Work Single

15.   Watson, Robert Patrick. "Boxing in the British Army and Navy." The Sports of the World. Ed. F.G. Aflalo. 1905.

    "Private McLaughlin, the hope deferred of the Irish Guards, did not triumph, for victory went to a fellow-countryman named McFadden, a Marine Artilleryman with splendid physique, but more strength than science."

16.   The Singapore Free Press, Feb. 19, 1908.

    "The [Royal West Kent Regiment] could not find a boxer heavy enough to take on McFadden, the heavyweight of the King Alfred, a big, powerful gunner of the R.M.A."

17.   The Penny Illustrated Paper, Oct. 6, 1906.

    
    
    "The Heavyweights, McFadden and Framlyn"
    ("Framlyn" is Gunner Hamlyn of the Royal Field Artillery)

18.   The Birmingham Daily Post, published Oct. 2, 1914.

    

19.   Wicklow People, Apr. 22, 1905.

    "One of the most interesting contests that has ever taken place in Ireland for many years has been arranged to take place on Easter Monday night at Earlsfort-terrace Ring, the scene for some time past of first-class boxing in this country. After a good lot of trouble and a big purse, the committee have arranged for Roche, of Wexford, unbeaten Irish champion, to meet M'Fadden, the champion of the British Army. The latter has won a great record on the other side, and will in every way be a worthy opponent of the Irishman, who has never yet had to lower his flag. Those who know both men are looking forward to a great contest, and one that will be remembered for a long time by those who will see it."

20.   The Sporting Life, Sep. 3, 1900.

    

21.   The Sporting Life, Sep. 30, 1904.

    "...the judges considered them so even that an extra round was ordered, although many competent men in the company were of opinion that McFadden had already won with something to spare."

22.   The Sportsman, Dec. 22, 1904.

    "The entries for the heavy-weights were of excellent class, including as they did Hewitt, holder of the Army Championship; McFadden, two years Army champion; big Tom Butt, champion of the Mediterranean; and J. Harvey. Butt was not fit, and he went down before Hewitt, and McFadden, having disposed of Harvey, met Hewitt in the final. These men are old opponents. In the Army Championships Hewitt was given the verdict, which I for one thought should have gone the other way. At the National a few weeks ago McFadden turned the tables by putting Hewitt out in five rounds. On Friday he again proved his superiority by winning easily; in fact, Hewitt was just about out at the end of the third round."

23.   The Sportsman, Dec. 29, 1905.

    "This particular evening one of the special nights at headquarters was made memorable by a slogging bout between the big sailor, Tom Butt, and the ex-champion of the Army, Corpl. McFadden. Though very slow, Butt is a man of herculean strength, and the way he took the blows rained on his jaw by McFadden was simply astounding. It was a gruelling battle of ten rounds which ended in favour of McFadden"

24.   The Referee, Nov. 18, 1900.

    "...Corporal M'Fadden, an extremely smart, beautifully-built young fellow..."