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

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.

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