Milford Haven War Memorial
Merchant Navy Personnel who fell in the Great War, 1914-1918
Edwin Cox, Cooks Boy, Mercantile Marine. Edwin was born at Swansea, and was the Son of Edwin and Florence Cox (nee Risk). The family moved to 12, Dartmouth Street, Milford Haven, where Edwin joined the Mercantile Marine as a Cooks Boy, aboard the London Registered SS Sandhurst. Edwin drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine UB 72, 6 miles NW off Corsewall Point, when Sandhurst was sunk with the loss of all hands. He was just 15 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
John William Humphries, Third Mate, Mercantile Marine. John was the Son of Ellen Louisa Humphries, of 13, Dartmouth Gardens, Milford Haven. He served as Third Mate aboard the SS Bulgarian, a Glasgow registered vessel. John died aged 24 on 20 January 1917, when Bulgarian was sunk by a German submarine. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
George J. Rudge, Cook, Mercantile Marine. George was born in Hull, but resided at Milford prior to the war. He served as Cook aboard the Steam Trawler Victoria, a Fleetwood registered vessel. He was killed, aged 56, on 1 June 1915 when Victoria was attacked and shelled by a German U-Boat. George is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
John (Stevo) Stevenson, Skipper, Mercantile Marine. Stevo was from Milford, and served as Skipper of the Steam Trawler Victoria, a Fleetwood registered vessel. He was killed on 1 June 1915 when Victoria was attacked and shelled by a German U-Boat. Stevo is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Also killed were Stevo's nephew, James Jones, who went on the boat for a trip, Albert Cole, Chief Engineer, of Milford (who is not commemorated on the War Memorial), George Rudge of Hook, and Frank Slade of Haverfordwest.
Albert Henry Tucker, Skipper, Mercantile Marine. Albert was the Son of John and Eliza Jane Tucker, of Brixham, Devon, and the husband of Miriam Berry Tucker, of 43, Dewsland Street, Milford Haven. He was Skipper of the 'Friendship', and was drowned when she was sunk by a German submarine on 13 February 1917. Albert was 42 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Merchant Navy, World War Two, 1939-1945
Alfred Walter Barrett Apter, Able Seaman, Merchant Navy. Alfred was the Son of George and Alice Gertrude Apter. He served aboard MV Meridian, a Panama registered vessel, which had been seized from the Germans by the U.S. Army. Alfred drowned when Meridian was torpedoed and sunk by U-561 on 26 November 1941. He was 25 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
William C. Crouch, Merchant Navy. Cannot be positively identified, as there were two men called William Crouch who died.
Thomas Herd Eden, Able Seaman, Merchant Navy. Thomas was the Son Of John William And Rosina Eden, Of Milford Haven. He served aboard MV Rio Bravo, a London registered vessel. Thomas was lost at sea through the torpedoing of his ship at Ostend Roads on 2 November 1944. He was 24 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
James John Vincent Fenech, Boy, Merchant Navy. James served as Boy aboard SS Sheafmead, a Newcastle-on-Tyne registered vessel. James drowned when Sheafmead was torpedoed without warning by U-37 on 27 May 1940. James was 19 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
J. D. Harness, Merchant Navy. Cannot presently be identified.
George James Hyatt, Able Seaman, Merchant Navy. George was the Son of James and Susan Hyatt, and served aboard MV San Demetrio, a London registered tanker. She had been made famous during 1940, after an attack on her by the German Battleship Admiral Scheer had left her ablaze, forcing the crew to take to their lifeboats. On the following morning, one of her lifeboats returned to her, and half of the crew re-boarded the tanker, put out the fires and repaired the damaged steering system. She was then repaired and put back in service, but was sunk by a torpedo from U-404 on 17 March 1942. George was killed in the sinking. He was 37 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Thomas Howard Ireland, Second Radio Officer, Merchant Navy. Thomas was the Husband of Gwendoline Ireland, of Milford Haven, and served aboard SS Tabaristan, a London registered cargo vessel. On 29 May 1941 she was sailing unescorted on a voyage from Basrah via Capetown to Britain with a cargo of 3,950 tons of groundnuts, 2,200 tons of pig-iron, 560 tons of manganese ore and 140 tons of general cargo. At 23.50 hours the German submarine U-38 fired a spread of two torpedoes, both of which hit Tabaristan. She sank within 4 minutes, southwest of Freetown. Twenty one crew members were lost, while the master, 35 crew members and three gunners were picked up by HMS Bengali and the British armed trawler HMS Turcoman, and landed at Freetown. Thomas was sadly one of the men killed aboard Tabiristan. He was 40 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
K. B. Lincoln, Ordinary Seaman, Merchant Navy. Little is known of this man, but he served aboard MV Narragansett, a London registered tanker, run by British Petroleum. At 06.09 hours on 25 Mar, 1942, the unescorted Narragansett was hit in the stern by one torpedo from U-105 about 400 miles east of Hampton Roads, Virginia and sank with all her crew. Seaman Lincoln is commemorated alongside his shipmates on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Edward Reynolds, Junior Engineering Officer, Merchant Navy. Edward was the Son Of William Francis And Winifred Jane Reynolds, Of Milford Haven, and served aboard SS Cadillac, a Newcastle-On-Tyne registered vessel. On 1 March 1941, Cadillac was torpedoed and sunk by U-552. Edward was lost with the ship. He was 20 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Rupert Greville Vanner, Master, Merchant Navy. Rupert was Master of SS Bradfyne, a Bideford registered vessel. Bradfyne had sailed from Montreal with a cargo of grain for Belfast and joined up with the 33 ship Convoy SC-11 which sailed from Sydney, Cape Breton on 9 November 1940. On 22 November Bradfyne was torpedoed by U-100 in the Atlantic South-East of Rockall and sank. Rupert and 37 of his crew were lost, and four were rescued by the Norwegian ship Norske King and landed at Belfast. Rupert was 37 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Frederick Harold Williams, Chief Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy. Frederick was the Son of Joe and Julia Williams, and the Husband of E. E. Nora Williams, Of Milford Haven. He served as Chief Engineer aboard MV British Security, a London registered vessel. Frederick lost his life when she was torpedoed and set on fire by the German submarine U-556 in the Atlantic, South of Cape Farewell 20 May 1941. She later sank three days later. She was on voyage from Curacao to Bowling via Halifax, Nova Scotia with a cargo of benzene and kerosene, as part of convoy HX 126 comprising of 29 ships. Frederick was 45 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Fishing Fleet, World War Two, 1939-1945
Harry R. Ivor Bennett, Boatswain (Bosun), Fishing Fleet. Harry was the Son of Harry and Eliza Bennet, of 9, Albion Street, Milford. He served aboard the Fishing Trawler Respondo, which was registered in West Hartlepool, but based at Milford. Harry was drowned when she was lost off Milford Haven on 11 September 1940. He was 26 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
William A. Coe, Second Hand, Fishing Fleet. William was the Son of Ben and Alice Coe, and the Husband of Ruby E. Coe, of Milford Haven, and served aboard the Steam Trawler Aberdeen, a Lowestoft registered trawler. William drowned when she was sunk by enemy aircraft in Cardigan Bay on 12 March 1941. He was 34 years old, and is buried at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Ireland.
Frederick James Dawes, Skipper, Fishing Fleet. Frederick was from 5, Wellington Road, Hakin, Milford Haven. He was Skipper of Trawler M85 Ely, and was drowned when she sank after colliding with H.M. Corvette Trillium on 14 January 1945. Frederick was 45 years old. For some reason Frederick is not commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Arthur Dyson, Mate, Fishing Fleet. Arthur served aboard SS Dandara, a Milford registered trawler. Arthur died on 12 February 1941, aged 40, and is buried at Milford Haven Cemetery. Many thanks to Les Nixon for the photograph.
Stanley John Edwards, Fireman, Fishing Fleet. Stanley served aboard Trawler M85 Ely, and lived at 47, Robert Street, Milford Haven. He drowned when she collided with HM Corvette Trillium on 14 January 1945, and was 30 years old. Stanley is not commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.
John Robert Freeman, Third Hand, Fishing Fleet. John was the Son of Robert and Mary Jane Freeman, of Milford Haven, and served aboard the Fishing Trawler John Baptish, a Milford registered trawler. John was drowned on 10 September 1940 when John Baptish was lost with all hands. He was 28 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Robert Cyril Goldspink, Skipper, Fishing Fleet. Robert was Skipper of the Trawler Loch Awe, and lived at 45, Robert Street, Milford. Robert was drowned along with his crew when Loch Awe went missing after leaving Milford on 28 February 1943. He was 54 years old. Robert is not commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.
John Gwilliam, Chief Engineer, Fishing Fleet. John was the Husband of Mabel Emma Gwilliam, of Milford Haven. He was Chief Engineer aboard the Trawler Loch Awe, and was 37 years old when she was lost with all hands after leaving Milford on 28 February 1943. John is commemorated on a family gravestone at Milford Haven Cemetery.
William Hardeveldt, Mate, Fishing Fleet. William lived at Cromwell Road, Milford, and served as Mate aboard the Trawler HL63 Respondo. He was drowned when Respondo went missing of Old Head of Kinsale in September 1940, and was 65 years old.
Francis Ernest M. Hawkins, B.E.M., Fisherman, Fishing Fleet. Francis lived at 87, Shakespeare Avenue, Milford Haven. He had been awarded the British Empire Medal early in the war, for his courage in action against enemy aircraft while aboard Trawler P & Y in 1941. He was drowned while serving aboard the Trawler M85 Ely, when she collided with HM Corvette Trillium on 14 January 1945. Francis was 35 years old.
John Hext, Deck Hand, Fishing Fleet. John served aboard Fishing Trawler Bass Rock, an Aberdeen registered trawler, which was based at Milford. He drowned when she was bombed and sunk by German aircraft off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland on 24 September 1940. John was 53 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. He was one of six brothers who died during the course of the war, and was from Brixham, Devon.
E. Hogg, Fisherman. Cannot be identified, but is possibly Bertie Edward Hunt, who was drowned while serving aboard the Fishing Trawler Westfield from Milford Haven on 6 July 1941. He was the son of Ephraim and Elizabeth Hunt, and the nephew of Violet Kathleen Hunt, of Lowestoft, Suffolk, and was 46 years old. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.
F. Jeffries, Fireman, Fishing Fleet. Fireman Jeffries lived at Shakespeare Avenue, Milford, and was part of the crew of the Trawler Loch Awe, which went missing after leaving Milford on 28 February 1940.
Martin Kennedy, Trimmer, Fishing Fleet. Martin served aboard the Fishing Trawler Westfield, a Milford registered trawler. Martin was drowned when Westfield was lost on 6 July 1941. He was 52 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Cornelius Jabez King, Mate, Fishing Fleet. Cornelius was the Husband of Mary A. V. B. King, of 51, Dewsland Street, Milford Haven, and served aboard the Steam Trawler Bianca, a Hull registered trawler. He drowned when Bianca was lost in the Irish Sea on 20 March 1941, possibly as a result of a mine explosion. Cornelius was 62 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. His brother Jabez also died aboard Bianca.
Jabez George King, D.S.C., Skipper, Fishing Fleet. Jabez was the Son Of Jabez King, And Of Martha King, Of Gorleston-On-Sea, and the Husband Of Alice King, Of 9, Starbuck Road, Milford Haven. He was Skipper of the Steam Trawler Bianca, which had been registered at Hull, and was based at Milford, where she had been converted into a minesweeper. Jabez had won the Distinguished Service Cross for his work at sea during the Great War, which was gazetted on 14 July 1916. The award was for; 'The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have received with much satisfaction from the officers in charge of the Auxiliary Patrol areas at home and abroad reports on the services performed by the officers and men serving under their orders during the period 1st January, 1915, to 31st January, 1916. These reports show that the officers and men serving in Armed Yachts, Trawlers and Drifters of the Auxiliary Patrol during the period in question have carried out their duties under extremely arduous and hazardous conditions of weather and exposure to enemy attack and mines with marked zeal, gallantry and success.' Sadly he survived the Great War, and was drowned when Bianca sank in the Irish Sea on 20 March 1941, possibly after a mine explosion. Jabez was 59 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. His brother Cornelius also died in the loss of Bianca.
E. Ledner, Fisherman. Cannot be identified.
William James McLean, Skipper, Fishing Fleet. William was the Son of James and Emma Mclean, and the Husband of M. G. Mclean, Of Milford Haven. He served aboard the Fishing Trawler John Baptish, of Milford, and had been Mentioned In Despatches, possibly during the Great War. William was drowned when John Baptish sank on 7 September 1940. He was 55 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Thomas Moore, Skipper, Fishing Fleet. Thomas was the Husband of Maud Mary Moore, Of Hakin, Milford Haven, and served aboard the Fishing Trawler Lord Haldane, a Lowestoft registered trawler. Thomas was drowned on 7 November 1940, aged 53, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Thomas Richard Owston, Skipper, Fishing Fleet. Thomas was the Son of Amrose and Minnie Owston, of Milford Haven, and the Husband of Norah Owston, Of Milford Haven. He was Skipper of the Fishing Trawler Respondo, a West Hartlepool registered trawler. Thomas drowned when Respondo was lost with all hands off the Old Head of Kinsale on 11 September 1940. He was 36 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
David H. Picton, Fisherman. No more is known of David, but he is commemorated on the grave of his brother in law Percy Gammer, and the epitaph reads lost at sea March 1943.
Arthur Edward Pritchard, Second Hand, Fishing Fleet. Arthur was the Son of Edith Ester Pritchard, and the husband of N. S. Pritchard, of Brixham, Devon. He served aboard the Fishing Trawler John Baptish, a Milford registered trawler, and drowned when she was lost on 10 September 1940. Arthur was 44 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
J. Salmon, Third Hand, Fishing Fleet. This man lived at Robert Street, Milford Haven. He served aboard the Milford Steam Trawler Loch Awe, and was drowned when she sank sometime after leaving Milford on 24 February 1943.
Percival James Sandford, Chief Engineer, Fishing Fleet. Percival was the Husband of E. H. Sandford, Of Milford Haven, and was Chief Engineer aboard the Fishing Trawler Westfield, a Milford trawler. Percival drowned when Westfield was lost on 6 July 1941. He was 46 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
William Reid Sandy, (Sanderson on Memorial), Third Hand, Fishing Fleet. William was the Husband of Sophia Annie Sandy, of Milford Haven, and was a Fisherman, serving aboard the Fishing Vessel Craigewan, a Milford Haven registered Trawler. William was one of the ten crew of Craigewan who died when she was lost at sea on 12 October 1945. William was 54 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Edward Albert Scrivens, Third Hand, Fishing Fleet. Edward was the Son of William and Rosena Scrivens, and the Husband of Hadassah Anna Sophia Scrivens, Of Milford Haven. He served aboard the Fishing Trawler Respondo, a Hartlepool registered trawler, and drowned when she was lost on 11 September 1940. Edward was 35 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Alfred Skewis, Skipper, Fishing Fleet. Alfred was the Husband of Edith Alice Skewis, Of Milford Haven, and was Skipper of the Steam Trawler Bass Rock, an Aberdeen registered trawler. Alfred was killed when Bass Rock was attacked by German aircraft and sunk on 24 September 1940. He was 50 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Edwin Stanley Thomas, Boatswain (Bosun), Fishing Fleet. Edwin lived at 10, Greville Road, Milford Haven, and was Bosun aboard the Hull registered Steam Trawler Bianca. Edwin was drowned when Bianca sank in the Irish Sea on 20 March 1941, probably due to a mine explosion. He was 23 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Benjamin Robert Tobutt, Deck Hand, Fishing Fleet. Benjamin was the Son of Benjamin And Alice Tobutt, of Hakin, Milford Haven. He served aboard the Milford registered Steam Trawler Westfield. Benjamin was drowned when Westfield went missing, presumed bombed and sunk by German aircraft off St. Govan's Head on 6 July 1941. He was 37 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Stanley George Watkins, Deck Hand, Fishing Fleet. Stanley was the Son of Thomas Bertie Lloyd Watkins and Florence Martha Watkins, of Milford Haven. He served aboard the Milford registered Steam Trawler Westfield, and was drowned when Westfield went missing on 6 July 1941, probably as a result of a German aircraft attack. Stanley was 18 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
William John Trevor Watkins, Third Hand, Fishing Fleet. William was the Son of William John Watkins, And of Margaret Anne Watkins, Of 7, Brooke Avenue, Milford Haven. He served aboard the Steam Trawler Bianca, a Hull registered trawler. William drowned when Bianca was lost in the Irish Sea on 20 March 1941, possibly after a mine explosion. He was 21 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.