Porthcawl's Merchant Seamen
Chief Petty Officer Richard Power
Richard Power, one of seven children, was born in Porthcawl in 1873. His father, Morris worked as a pilot at Porthcawl Harbour. Both Richard and his older brother William were later, to seek careers at sea. His older sister, Martha married William Burnell in 1890. Their son,Richard Wallace Burnell was born in 1893. He, too, was to lose his life in the war, fighting with the 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment on 23rd March 1918.
By 1891, Richard Power had moved to Cardiff in pursuit of a life at sea.In 1895 he gained his Certificate of Competency as a 'Second Mate.' In 1902 he achieves the next level as a 'First Mate', gaining full competency as a 'Master' in 1902.
In 1900 he married Sarah Catherine Davies from Coytrahen, nr Maesteg. In the 1911 Census they are found living at 38 Coedcae Street, Grangetown, Cardiff with their daughter ,Annie. Richard's occupation, at this time, is recorded as a Mercantile Marine Officer.
Following the outbreak of war , Richard continued to work as a Merchant seaman on various ships.Civilian cargo ships were needed to import food and raw materials as well as transport soldiers overseas.
On 18th May 1917 Richard was one of seven killed whilst aboard the SS "Mary Baird," operating between Rouen and Newport Dock. The ship was sunk 2.5 miles off the coast of Pendeen Cove, North Cornwall by a mine, laid by U Boat UC 47 Commanded by Paul Hindius.It was carrying ballast on a return trip.The UC47 was later rammed by a Patrol boat P57 off Flamborough Head, on 18th November 1917. All hands lost. Paul Hindius, himself, was to perish aboard UB 103 sunk in the North Sea on 16th September 1918.
At the time of his death, Richard Power and his family were living at 40 Dinas Street, Grangetown, Cardiff. Richard is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial in London; and on the family grave in St John's Church Graveyard, Newton,Porthcawl.
Richard Power, one of seven children, was born in Porthcawl in 1873. His father, Morris worked as a pilot at Porthcawl Harbour. Both Richard and his older brother William were later, to seek careers at sea. His older sister, Martha married William Burnell in 1890. Their son,Richard Wallace Burnell was born in 1893. He, too, was to lose his life in the war, fighting with the 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment on 23rd March 1918.
By 1891, Richard Power had moved to Cardiff in pursuit of a life at sea.In 1895 he gained his Certificate of Competency as a 'Second Mate.' In 1902 he achieves the next level as a 'First Mate', gaining full competency as a 'Master' in 1902.
In 1900 he married Sarah Catherine Davies from Coytrahen, nr Maesteg. In the 1911 Census they are found living at 38 Coedcae Street, Grangetown, Cardiff with their daughter ,Annie. Richard's occupation, at this time, is recorded as a Mercantile Marine Officer.
Following the outbreak of war , Richard continued to work as a Merchant seaman on various ships.Civilian cargo ships were needed to import food and raw materials as well as transport soldiers overseas.
On 18th May 1917 Richard was one of seven killed whilst aboard the SS "Mary Baird," operating between Rouen and Newport Dock. The ship was sunk 2.5 miles off the coast of Pendeen Cove, North Cornwall by a mine, laid by U Boat UC 47 Commanded by Paul Hindius.It was carrying ballast on a return trip.The UC47 was later rammed by a Patrol boat P57 off Flamborough Head, on 18th November 1917. All hands lost. Paul Hindius, himself, was to perish aboard UB 103 sunk in the North Sea on 16th September 1918.
At the time of his death, Richard Power and his family were living at 40 Dinas Street, Grangetown, Cardiff. Richard is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial in London; and on the family grave in St John's Church Graveyard, Newton,Porthcawl.
Chief Officer Angus Grant
Angus was born in Pencoed, Bridgend on 14th November 1870 to Donald and Mary Grant; the youngest of seven children. The family lived in the local Post Office which was ,also, run by his parents as a general store.
In February 1884, at the age of 13 yrs, Angus joins the GWR at Pencoed as a 'lad porter.' He resigns in June 1886 for a career at sea.
In 1890, Angus gains his Certificate of Competency as a 'Second Mate.'On 11th August 1894 he achieves his 'First Mate', Certificate of Competency.In March 1897, he gains his 'Master's' Certificate before achieving the 'Extra Master' status in August of the same year.
Following a distinguished career in the Mercantile Marine Service , Chief Officer Angus Grant is drowned on 27th July 1917 as a result of a U Boat attack on the SS 'Begona.'
According to his will, by the time of his death he has a residence at " Brigydon" 32, Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl. He left £250 to Catherine Pyves, his widowed sister, whose husband Charles had died at sea, 17th January 1915.
Angus was born in Pencoed, Bridgend on 14th November 1870 to Donald and Mary Grant; the youngest of seven children. The family lived in the local Post Office which was ,also, run by his parents as a general store.
In February 1884, at the age of 13 yrs, Angus joins the GWR at Pencoed as a 'lad porter.' He resigns in June 1886 for a career at sea.
In 1890, Angus gains his Certificate of Competency as a 'Second Mate.'On 11th August 1894 he achieves his 'First Mate', Certificate of Competency.In March 1897, he gains his 'Master's' Certificate before achieving the 'Extra Master' status in August of the same year.
Following a distinguished career in the Mercantile Marine Service , Chief Officer Angus Grant is drowned on 27th July 1917 as a result of a U Boat attack on the SS 'Begona.'
According to his will, by the time of his death he has a residence at " Brigydon" 32, Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl. He left £250 to Catherine Pyves, his widowed sister, whose husband Charles had died at sea, 17th January 1915.
Fourth Engineer Officer William Robert Lewis
William was born in Dowlais, Merthyr in 1881.In 1908 he married Jane Houlsby Harrison from Pontypridd.Their son,David was born on 18th April 1909 in Stockton on Tees, Durham.In the 1911 Census, they are found to be residing 14, Southall Street, Brynna, Llanharan, Glamorgan where two months previously their daughter,Lulu was born.William's occupation is recorded as an electrical engineer.
It can only be assumed that following the outbreak of war, that due to his occupation ,William joined the Mercantile Marine Service.
William was presumed drowned on 28th January 1917,during the sinking of the SS "Yola."
The SS Yola was a steamer, built in 1898. She's listed in 'Lloyd's War Losses: The First World War' as missing after sailing from New York, 26 Jan 1917, for London, with a cargo of wheat.
Only recently, due to research, it is believed that the SS Yola was torpedoed twice and sunk by U 55 on February 7, 1917 west of Ushant. U 55 observed the ship sink but was unable to obtain the name of the vessel. The U-boat described her,though, as a grain steamer on a southeasterly course.
Some, but not all ships that went missing, were regarded by the Admiralty at the time as likely warloss; however, it was relatively easy for the Admiralty to declare the SS Yola as a war loss, because unrestricted submarine warfare did not begin, officially, until February 1, 1917.
By the time of his death, William's family had moved to "Freshfield," Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl, where his wife Jane died in 1954.
William was born in Dowlais, Merthyr in 1881.In 1908 he married Jane Houlsby Harrison from Pontypridd.Their son,David was born on 18th April 1909 in Stockton on Tees, Durham.In the 1911 Census, they are found to be residing 14, Southall Street, Brynna, Llanharan, Glamorgan where two months previously their daughter,Lulu was born.William's occupation is recorded as an electrical engineer.
It can only be assumed that following the outbreak of war, that due to his occupation ,William joined the Mercantile Marine Service.
William was presumed drowned on 28th January 1917,during the sinking of the SS "Yola."
The SS Yola was a steamer, built in 1898. She's listed in 'Lloyd's War Losses: The First World War' as missing after sailing from New York, 26 Jan 1917, for London, with a cargo of wheat.
Only recently, due to research, it is believed that the SS Yola was torpedoed twice and sunk by U 55 on February 7, 1917 west of Ushant. U 55 observed the ship sink but was unable to obtain the name of the vessel. The U-boat described her,though, as a grain steamer on a southeasterly course.
Some, but not all ships that went missing, were regarded by the Admiralty at the time as likely warloss; however, it was relatively easy for the Admiralty to declare the SS Yola as a war loss, because unrestricted submarine warfare did not begin, officially, until February 1, 1917.
By the time of his death, William's family had moved to "Freshfield," Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl, where his wife Jane died in 1954.