Officer William E. Stark: More Than a Ghost Story

The Queen Mary is one of the most famously haunted ships in the world. Guests and staff alike have reported seeing a man in a Cunard officer’s uniform, walking the decks as if still carrying out his duties. Some claim he appears confused, still searching for something. The stories are chilling, but who was this man before he became a legend? Let’s uncover the life, and lingering presence, of Senior 2nd Officer William E. Stark.

When I began writing about the spirits of the Queen Mary, I quickly realized that it’s a topic that has already been thoroughly covered. Yet, while plenty of stories describe the ship’s famous ghosts, what I haven’t seen as much of is deeper information about the people behind the hauntings—who they were in life, beyond their deaths.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on our culture’s fascination with ghost stories. I think it’s easy to forget that when we talk about hauntings and tragic deaths, we’re often speaking about real people. People who had families, dreams, and lives that extended far beyond the moment that ultimately made them “famous.” Some of those families may even still be alive.

Remembering the Lives Behind the Legends

That thought led me to wonder: how would I feel if a loved one of mine became known primarily as a ghost? What if the only mentions of them were in paranormal YouTube videos or ghost tours, focused entirely on how they died?

I don’t think most of us who love ghost stories intend to be disrespectful. But somewhere along the way, there seems to have been a disconnect—a tendency to overlook the lives these people lived in favor of focusing on the spooky or tragic circumstances of their deaths. That’s why I try to humanize the ghost stories and urban legends I share. By digging into the history of these people, I hope to remind readers that these spirits were more than their final moments.

With that in mind, I want to share the story of Senior 2nd Officer William E. Stark, one of the Queen Mary’s most well-known ghosts.

Seafaring Was In His Blood

William Eric Stark was born on September 25, 1918, in Sunderland, England. By the time he was born, his father, William Eric Stark Sr., was already an accomplished mariner. Stark Sr. served as an officer on numerous ships, including the Queen Mary, and remained a sailor until the age of 57.

It’s no surprise, then, that William Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps.

From Apprentice to Decorated Officer

In 1936, at the age of 17, William Jr. began his maritime career as an apprentice on the cargo ship Silverpine. He quickly rose through the ranks, and by 1940, he had become a Junior 3rd Officer on the RMS Antonia.

A huge thank you to Paul from the YouTube channel Life and Death in a Northern Town for sharing these incredible pieces of history. His Nana was good friends with William Stark and saved postcards he sent her from the Queen Mary. Paul also captured the cemetery photo above, which shows William’s broken headstone. It’s amazing to see these personal connections to William’s story.

During World War II, William was decorated with six service medals. While I couldn’t uncover exactly what he did during the war, I do know that he married Margaret Joyce Blake, a nurse, in Port Said, Egypt, in 1941. Given her profession, it’s possible they met while working aboard a ship.

An Officer on the Queen Mary

By November 1947, William was serving as a Senior 3rd Officer on the RMS Queen Mary. Margaret, meanwhile, appears to have led a busy life as a midwife in Hampshire, England, likely enduring long periods apart from her husband due to his time at sea.

At this point in history the Queen Mary was still one of the world’s premier ocean liners, operating as part of Cunard Line’s transatlantic service between Southampton and New York. Though it had returned to civilian service after WW2, it was no ordinary passenger ship. The Queen Mary’s legacy as both a luxury liner and a wartime troopship made her iconic.

In April 1948, William was promoted to Junior 2nd Officer, and by the following year, he had achieved the rank of Senior 2nd Officer—the position he held during his final voyage aboard the Queen Mary in September 1949.

A Fatal Mistake

On the night of September 18, 1949, Senior 2nd Officer Stark went to prepare drinks, as Captain Andrew MacKellar had invited two officers for a drink when they came off duty. Unable to find the gin, he asked Frederick Stokes, the Captain’s Steward, for help.

In the dim lighting, Stokes searched a cupboard and eventually handed Stark a bottle. Unbeknownst to either of them, the bottle —though labeled as gin — had been repurposed to store carbon tetrachloride, a toxic cleaning solvent used for ship maintenance.

At 9:45 p.m., after completing his rounds, Stark met with Captain MacKellar and made an offhanded comment:

“That was funny gin we had, sir, at dinner-time.”

MacKellar, realizing something was wrong, questioned him further. It was only then that Stark understood what had happened. He had unknowingly mixed his drink with poison.

Stark had only taken a “couple of sips” before realizing the mistake. However, rather than seeking immediate medical treatment, he dismissed the danger, reportedly treating the situation as “rather a joke.” He later joined other officers in the Chief Officer’s cabin and had two actual gin and limes.

A Deadly Dismissal

Dr. John O’Meara, the ship’s Assistant Surgeon, urged Stark to have his stomach pumped immediately, but Stark refused. Instead, he was advised to drink large amounts of lime juice and water to induce vomiting. He followed this advice but otherwise carried on as if nothing had happened.

By the time the Queen Mary reached Southampton on September 20, Stark’s condition had worsened significantly. He was rushed to the Royal South Hants and Southampton Hospital, where his wife, Margaret, a nurse, was able to speak with him. She later told the coroner that she had asked her husband why he hadn’t had his stomach pumped. His response:

“I did not think anything of it.”

Despite treatment, Stark succumbed to carbon tetrachloride poisoning on September 23, 1949, just two days before his 31st birthday.

At the inquest, the Deputy Coroner, Michael Emanuel, ruled his death an accident, calling it a “most unfortunate sequence of events.” Dr. H. H. Gleave, a pathologist, stated that if Stark had undergone the stomach wash immediately, he likely would have survived.

The final verdict: Death by misadventure.

A Haunting Legacy

Many believe that a person must die in a location in order to haunt it, but that’s not always true. It’s possible that the spirit of Officer Stark remains aboard the Queen Mary because of his deep connection to the ship.

Reports of William Stark’s spirit linger aboard the Queen Mary, particularly near the Captain’s cabin on the main deck and along the Promenade. Some visitors and crew members have claimed to see a figure in a Cunard officer’s uniform in these areas, believed to be Stark still making his rounds. Others have reported hearing unexplained choking sounds, which some attribute to Stark’s tragic poisoning.¹Queen Mary Shadows