William Joseph Bonner was born at 61 Saratoga Street in East Boston on November 12, 1892, to George F. and Margaret Bonner. His father, who was a fish dealer, was born in Provincetown, and his mother was born in Ireland. The family had moved by 1910 to 96 Homer Street. They moved to Dorchester by 1916, where they lived at 12 Ferndale Street, near Codman Square. William had an older brother, George; a younger brother William; and two younger sisters, Mary and Helena.
William graduated from East Boston High School; then he attended the Massachusetts Nautical Training School and graduated in 1915. He was a quartermaster, Third Officer, Merchant Service, Massachusetts Nautical Training Ship for two years. By the time of William’s enlistment on July 20, 1917, the family’s address was 395 Talbot Avenue. He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve Force and was immediately given the rank of Ensign and assigned to duty on the ship Caesar. On April 9, 1918, he transferred to the ship Tjikembaug.
William died of disease at the age of 25 on September 20, 1918, aboard the “Tjikembaug,” en route from France. The Boston Globe and the Boston Post reported his death at sea on October 2, 1918. His funeral was conducted December, 18, 1918, from the residence of his sister, Mrs. William Riley, 196 Blue Hill Parkway, and services were held at St. Angela’s Church.
The Hero Square at the intersection of Almont Street and Walk Hill Street, Mattapan, was named in his memory in 1919.
Sources:
Birth record on FamilySearch.org
Boston Directory, 1916
Boston Globe, October 2, 1918 and December 19, 1918
Boston Post, October 2, 1918
The Gold Star Record of Massachusetts. Edited by Eben Putnam. (Boston, 1929). Volume 2, 462.
Hero Squares at https://www.cityofboston.gov/veterans/herosquares/view.aspx?id=76
US Census 1900, 1910 on FamilySearch.org
World War I service record. Military, Compiled Service Records. World War I. Carded Records. Records of the Military Division of the Adjutant General’s Office, Massachusetts National Guard.