Individual Details

Birth

The Masters and Mates records has Ernest's birth date as 1870 but it is probably a year out and he was in fact born in 1869.

Occupation

The SV Port Jackson was a four masted fully square rigged barque and considered one of the most beautiful iron ships ever built. She was a fast wool clipper on the London-Sydney run and a cadet training ship. On April 28th 1917, U-67 (Kapitänleutnant Hans Nieland), torpedoed the Port Jackson, 180 miles WxN of Fastnet.

Occupation

The SV Ben Cruachan was a 3 masted iron square rigged schooner in service for the wool trade with Australia. She also had an engine. On July 27th, 1917, now called the SV Carmela, on a voyage from New York to Le Havre with general cargo, was scuttled by the German submarine UC-62 (Max Schmitz), 25 miles southwest of the Lizard. There were no casualties.

Miscellaneous

According to his application form Ernest had an anchor tatoo on his left hand and an American eagle on his left arm. He was 5' 6 3/4" tall. He had dark brown hair, a dark complexion and blue eyes.

Marriage

They were married by the registrar Charles Sharp and the Superintendent Registrar Charles Townley. The witnesses were Ernest's sister Kate L Williams and J Fernee.

Occupation

He was 3rd officer on the SS Glenfruin. Then 2nd officer on the SS Glengarry and the SS Glengyle.

Occupation

The SS Glengyle was a passenger/cargo ship driven by two screws. On January 1st, 1916, Glengyle, on a voyage from Vladivostok & Bombay to Genoa & London with general cargo and cotton, was sunk by the German submarine U-34 (Claus Rücker), 240 miles ExS of Malta.

In 1916 the SS Glenesk was renamed the SS Baynesk. She was sunk by U-boat U-39 130nm NxW of Alexandria on the 9th of January 1917.

Occupation

The SS Glenfarg was a British Passenger/Cargo Steam Vessel of 3,647 tons built in 1894 by London & Glasgow Eng & Iron Shipbuilding Co, Yard No 279 for McGregor, Gow & Co., Glasgow. She was powered by a steam triple expansion engine 445nhp. Engines by Shipbuilder. In 1911 she was acquired by the Glen Line Ltd. On the 14th August 1914 she ran aground and was wrecked while carrying timber from Kuchinotsu to Shanghai near Shirose Lighthouse, Gola Islands near Japan. There was no loss of life.
Ernest had to apply for a replacement master's certificate as the origional went down with the SS Glenfarg.

Occupation

The SS Cretecable was a ferro-concrete construction utility tug. She was built in 1919 by the Wear Concrete Building Company for . She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine. British Government owned, she was ordered in 1917 as CT3 #143370 by the Admiralty for the Inland Waterway and Dock Department to tow ferro-concrete barges across the Channel.

On the 9th of October 1920 Cretecable was in passage from Shoreham to the Tyne when she was in collison with the trawler Lord Cecil off Souter Point, near Whitburn, Sunderland. It appears that she was towing the concrete barge Creterock, which grounded in the collision and broke her back. Both wrecks lie in 10 meters of water and are divespots. Ernest was the master.

Along with the SS Glenfarg, this was the second time that Ernest was master of a ship that ran aground and was wrecked. He applied for a replacement master's certificate as his papers had gone down with the SS Cretecable.

Marriage

Ernest and Annie (his sister-in-law) were married by licence by the Registrar J.W.Dyson and the Deputy Superintendent Registrar R. Issell Partridge. The witnesses were E. Edmunds and H.C.L.Rose. They both declared their ages as 47 years!!

Residence

The SS Creterope (CT2) was a sister ship of the SS Cretecable.

Probate

Probate was granted to his widow Anne Williams. His effects were valued at £676 (£22,591.92 in 2005).