MEEK, William Johnston

Master, S.S. Hatasu (Liverpool), Merchant Navy
Date of Death: 02/10/1941
Age: 48

Remembered of Tower Hill Memorial
Remembered on family memorial Bangor Cemtery

William Johnston Meek was born on 14th January 1893, in Ballymagee Street, Bangor. He was the son of David Meek, a draper, and his wife Anna (nee Johnston) and was the second of their nine children.

His father David, was a native of Portadown and had married Anna in Belfast in 1890 where was woking as a pawnbroker. After the marriage they moved to Ballymagee Street (now High Street) in Bangor, where he took up trade as a draper. They later moved to Ardbracken Terrace before moving to Clifton Road, the home of Anna's father William, a retired Master Mariner.

After school young William took after his grandfather (who had an interesting life story) and went to sea and by 1915 was 4th Officer on board the ss Colonial sailing to South Africa.

He served in the merchant navy throughout the Great War earning his Mercantile Marine medal and by 1928 had gained the rank of 2nd officer on the ss Armarna sailing round the Mediterranean.

He married a girl called Elizabeth but I have been unable to confirm any details at this point. Elizabeth was living in Southport, Lancashire, when granted administration of his estate in 1943.

ss Hatasu

In 1941, William was serving as master of the ss Hatasu, sailing from Manchester to New York in ballast, when she was torpedoed and sunk by U431 approx 600 miles east of Cape Race. Thirty four crew and six gunners were lost. Seven survivors were picked up by the USS Charles F. Hughes after seven days in boat and landed at Reykjavik.

William is recorded on the Second World War Memorial window
in First Bangor Presbyterian Church

Ulster Names in Casualty Lists
Among a list of deaths of members of the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets is the name of William Johnston Meek, master, 71, Clifton Road, Bangor.
Northern Whig, Thursday, 7th May 1942

Master Mariners Death. -- A list of members of the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets who have been killed by enemy action includes the name of William Johnston Meek, master, of 71, Clifton Road, Bangor.
Belfast Newsletter, Thursday, 7th May 1942

McEWAN, William Arthur

Merchant Seaman
Died: 4/08/1916
Age: 22

Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

William McEwan was born on the 20th March 1894 in Slieveban, Co Donegal. He was the third son of St.George Glencairn McEwan (known as George), a coastguard, and his wife Ann nee McNeill.

The family had moved several times as George was posted to various stations. The family had been living in Cushendun, Co Antrim when William's two older siblings, David and Margaret, where born before moving to Slieveban. It was here his brothers George and Isaac where also born. The family then moved to Helen's Bay where brother Charles was born in 1899. When his father George retired from the Coastguard the family moved to Hardcastle Street in Belfast and it was here George died in 1914.

In 1909, at the age 15, William joined the Royal Navy as a Signal Boy where he served, among other postings, on the Ganges, Impregnable, and King Alfred. William had an exemplary service record and in 1912, at age 18, fully enlisted with the rating of Ordinary Signalman.

Unfortunately, only two years later in 1914, William was dismissed as unfit for service suffering with acute rheumatism.

William did not give up the sea however, and joined the mercantile marine where he served on vessels such as Lord Antrim and Duke of Argyll.

In 1916 William came down with malaria and was being brought home by a White Star liner but only reached Liverpool. The family received a telegram from the White Star Company and his mother and a brother crossed over to Liverpool but William died later that day in the Northern Hospital.  His remains were brought home to Bangor and he was interred in Bangor Cemetery on Monday, 7th August.

Although, as a merchant seaman, the circumstances of his death preclude him as being included as a war fatality with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission William is commemorated on the Bangor and District War Memorial and the Royal British Legion (Bangor Branch) Memorial Plaque.

M'EWAN -- August 5, 1916, suddenly, at the Northern Hospital, Liverpool, William Arthur, third and dearly-beloved son of Annie and the late George M'Ewan, R.N., 28 Croft Street, Bangor.

Bangor Man's Death.
The many friends of the family in Bangor learned with deep regret of the sudden death in a Liverpool Hospital or Mr. Wm. A. M'Ewan, son of Mrs. M'Ewan and the late Mr. Geo. M'Ewan, R.N., Croft Street, Bangor. Deceased had been brought home by a White Star liner suffering from malaria fever, but he unfortunately did not survive to reach Bangor. Mrs. M'Ewan and his brother crossed on Friday on receiving the Company's wire, but found him unconscious and sinking rapidly. His remains were interred in the Bangor New Cemetery on Monday, the attendance at the funeral being very large and representative. Rev. J. R. M'Donald, M.A., conducted the funeral service.

(The Spectator, 11 August 1916.)

MERCER, Robert

First Engineer, S.S. "Bandon" (Cork), Mercantile Marine
Died: 13/04/1917
Age: 67

Remembered on Tower Hill Memorial
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor cemetery

Robert Mercer was born in Clonmel about 1850 and was the son of Richard Mercer, an engineer.

Robert joined the mercantile marine working as an engineer on various vessels mainly on coasting trade in home waters.

He was living in Cork when he married Ellen Corban in St Lukes Parish Church, Cork, on 30th July 1878.

The family stayed in Cork and it was there that Robert and Ellen raised their nine children.

In 1917 Robert was serving as the First Engineer on the ss Bandon and on 12th April, sailed from Liverpool for Cork with a cargo of coal under the command of Captain P.F. Kelly with a crew of 32.

ss Bandon

The ship was just off Mine Head when it was struck was holed on the port side beside the engine room. Generally recorded as having been torpedoed by U33 it is now believed it was caught in a minefield laid by U44. (www.naval-history.net)

The ship began to sink immediately and the captain returned to the bridge and ordered to head to land. Unfortunately, the ship exploded due to the damage to the engine room and sank rapidly taking most of the crew with it.

The captain managed to come back to the surface and was able to reach one of the collapsible deck-seats which were floating among the wreckage. The third engineer, Mr Mercer; Jeremiah O'Keeffe, fireman; Kewley, carpenter; J. McCarthy, AB and a fireman, John Walsh were also clinging to the deck seat. Sadly McCarthy lost hold of the raft and was drowned.

After 6 p.m. a motor launch which had been sent to their rescue picked up four survivors, after being 2 1/2 hours in the water. The fifth man, John Walsh, in letting go of the raft grasped the large rope fender of the motor launch, but just as he did so she took a heavy roll, with the result he lost his grasp and was drowned.

MATSON, Norman Leslie

Petty Officer, Royal Navy
Service No: DASRI 189504
Died: 01/09/1950
Age: 45

Norman Leslie Matson was born in Belfast on the 17th November 1903. He was the son of Charles Matson, a contable in the RIC, and his wife Jean Matson (nee McIlwrath). The family then living in Ulsterville Gardens moved to Madrid Street where they are recorded in the 1911 census. Norman's father, now a sergeant, later attained the rank of Head Constable.

After school Norman joined the Belfast and County Down Railway working for 14 years in the office of the general manager.

On the outbreak of the Second World War, Norman joined the Merchant Navy and later volunteered for the Royal Navy.

In 1940 Norman was serving on board HMS Carnarvon Castle. Built by Harland and Wolff, the Carnarvon Castle was a passenger ship operated by the Union-Castle Mail line. Requisitioned by the Admiralty in September 1939 while in Cape Town, she was converted into an armed merchant cruiser and commissioned in October 1939.

On the 5th December 1940, while off the coast of Brazil, she encountered the German auxiliary cruiser Thor. In a five-hour running battle with her the Carnarvon Castle suffered heavy damage, sustaining 27 hits causing 4 dead and 27 wounded. She put into Montevideo for repairs, and was repaired with steel plate reportedly salvaged from the German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee.

Bellringers of St. Thomas's Church, Belfast, who took part
in the victory peal on Sunday. Mr. David Ireland
(hon. conductor) is in centre foreground, and to the extreme
right is Leading Steward Norman Leslie Matson,
home on leave from the Merchant Navy.
Larne Times, 19th November 1942

For his part in the action Norman was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

Norman was a keen bellringer and was a member of St. Thomas's Bell-Ringers Society. On the morning of Sunday, 15th November 1940, across the United Kingdom a "firing peal" of bells was rung in honour of the first offensive victory by the Allied forces. Norman who was home on leave at the time, was given the honour of the Society by being assigned the biggest bell, the tenor.

MATSON – September 1, 1950, at Hospital (as result of war services, patiently borne), Petty Officer Norman Leslie Matson, D.S.M., loved son of Jeannie and the late Charles Matson. Funeral from his residence, 24, Camden Street, on Monday, at 2-30 p.m., to Bangor New Cemetery. Very deeply regretted. Thy will be done.

Belfast Newsletter, 2nd September 1950

SKIMIN, George

Mate, Franz Fischer (London)
Died: 01/02/1916
Age: 48

Remembered on Tower Hill Memorial
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

George Skimin was born on the 21st June, 1867, in Church Street, Bangor. His parents were John Skimin (aka Skimmon), a sailor, and his wife Eliza Skimin (nee Leay).

Like his father before him, George took to the sea and signed on as a ships boy in 1884.

In June 1892 he married his wife Jane Barnes in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church. Her father James was also sailor.

List of those killed in the Great War
in Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bangor

Over the years his maritime career progressed. He passed his examinations in April 1896 earning his Mates certificate and gained his Master's Certificate of Competency in November 1903.

Mainly working the coasting trade, George served on various vessels, and in November 1915 signed on as Mate on the Franz Fisher.

Built by Irvine & Co., West Hartlepool in 1881 the Franz Fischer was a German owned steamer that had been requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a collier.

She was on a voyage from Hartlepool to Cowes with a cargo of coal on 1st February 1916, when she was sunk two miles south of Kentish Knock lightvessel. Of the 16 crew members, 13 were lost.

The cause of her loss has been the source of some controversy over the years however. British records give her loss as the result of a bomb from a zeppelin – L19. However, later research, which is now more accepted, claims she was sunk by the German submarine UB-17.

George's name is recorded on the war memorial of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bangor, and on the Roll of Honour for Bangor Masonic.

BANGOR SEAMAN KILLED BY ZEPPELIN BOMB

Captain George Skimin, a Bangor seaman, who was engaged in transport work since beginning of the war, has been killed by the explosion of a bomb from a Zeppelin. He was a son of the late Captain Skimin, Bangor, and a brother of Mr. Arthur Skimin, clerk of the Bangor gas undertaking. He was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bangor. Deceased's widow, two sons, and daughter reside at Holborn Avenue, Belfast.

Belfast Newsletter, 12th February 1916

MAGINNIS, Hugh

Ship's Cook, S.S. Wileysike
Died: 09/05/1918
Age: 38

Interred Bangor Cemetery

Born in Bangor, son of Hugh and Jane Maginnis.

Photo of ss Wileysike (from Clive Ketley on www.tynebuiltships.co.uk)

S.S. WILEYSIKE
The ss Wileysike (Reg No: 95248) was an lightly-armed British cargo ship. On the 9th May 1918, while en route from Glasgow to France with a cargo of coal, she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U54 when 8 miles SW of St Ann’s Head, Wales. She went down with the loss of 4 lives: Hugh, David Davies (Wales), George Pettinger (Yorkshire) and Rafael Diaz (Mexico).
    She was built in 1888 by the Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Company and, when sunk, was owned by the Wileysike Steamship Co Ltd (WS Miller & Co) of Glasgow.