William Powell was born in Soho, London on 18 December 1870. He joined the Royal Navy at as a Seaman in 1894 – signing on for a twelve year engagement. He was ‘Rated Up’ to Ordinary Seaman and then to Able Seaman. Further advancement to Leading Seaman followed on 8 September 1898 but he was reverted to the rate of Able Seaman on 27 January 1900.  The reason for this reversion is not known.  He was drafted to HMS LATONA ‘for Submarine Training’ in July 1903.  William Powell was again ‘Rated Up’ to Leading Seaman on 1 June 1905. He then served continuously in Submarines until 1 October 1910 when he returned to General Service with a draft to HMS EXCELLENT at Portsmouth in line with the policy then in place that Ratings should return to General Service after five years Submarine service – but they could later volunteer for a second period of service in Submarines.

He rejoined the Submarine service on 28 May 1912 with a draft to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS ARROGANT ‘for Submarines’.  He was drafted to HMS E9 (Lieutenant Commander Max  Horton).   E9 was built at the Barrow in Furness Yard of Vickers Sons and Maxims, was launched on 17 March 1912 and, after the ‘Commissioning’ on 18 June 1914, William Powell served in that submarine in the North Sea and, later in the Baltic. Whilst in E9, Max Horton sank the German cruiser SMS HELA in September 1914 and the destroyer S116 off Heligoland on 6t October 1914. After returning to Harwich HMS E9 was ordered into the Baltic with two other Submarines of which only HMS E1 and E9 succeeded in making the passage. 

William Powell was, again reverted to Able Seaman on 13 September 1915. On leaving HMS E9 William Powell joined HMS E18 (Lieutenant Commander Robert Crosby Halahan, Royal Navy) which was also part of the Baltic Flotilla.  HMS E18 was built at the Barrow in Furness Yard of Vickers Sons and Maxims, was launched on 4 March 1915 and, after commissioning on 6 June 1915 the Submarine joined the Eighth Submarine Flotilla at Harwich and was then sent to the Baltic in August 1915.

William Powell was 45 years old when he died.  He was the husband of May Louisa Powell (née Moody) of 123, Toronto Road, Buckland, Portsmouth.  They were married at Southampton on 16 December 1903 and had one son – Victor William Frank Powell.  William Powell was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for his Naval Service and was also awarded the Cross of St George, 3rd  Class  and 4th Class by the Russian Government.  He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial Panel No. 13.