Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapelyard - Herbert George Williams

Nearly 24 years, after the burial of Noel Parry Davies, at Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapelyard, April 1918.

Site of where the SS Empire Amethyst lies in the Caribbean Sea

The SS Empire Amethyst sunk, on the 13^th April 1942, Caribbean Sea.

The SS Empire Amethyst was built by the Furness Shipbuilding Co., Haverton Hill-on-Tess, and launched on the 8^th June 1941 and finally being completed during that December.  She was registered to the Middlesbrough.

The following January, 1942, the SS Empire Amethyst as part of Convoy, ON 17, picked up five survivors from the Norwegian SS Innroy, having been sunk by U-553.  The survivors were dropped off at Nova Scotia.

Sailing from Halifax on 1^st February 1942, as part of Convoy HX 173, arriving at Liverpool on 14^th February.

From Liverpool, sailing on 4^th March 1942, the Empire Amethyst was in ballast, having unloaded at Milford Haven, as part of Convoy OS 21, for Freetown, Sierra Leona.  Before reaching Freetown, she stopped off at Belfast to allow a crew to be discharged from illness and replaced.  Once as Freetown, she sailed for New Orleans.

Mid-April, Empire Amethyst left with a cargo of 12,000 of motor spirt, from New Orleans.  the voyage across the Atlantic to Freetown, via Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea.

On 12^th April, the crew from U-154 spotted the Empire Amethyst. The U-boat captain, Walther Kolle, thought that the SS Empire Amethyst was escorted by HMCS Prince Henry, and did not carry out an attack.

Early on the morning of the 12^th, the SS Empire Amethyst received a distress call, from the American SS Delvalla, that had been attacked and sinking after been torpedoed by U-154.  The Prince Henry, headed for the distressed Delvalla, and proved assistance.   

Later on, the morning, the U-154 spotted the Empire Amethyst, under escort, which later on the day was lost.  With the shortage of torpedoes, the U-154, decided to surface and attack.  The chase began during the evening of the 12^th, where the Empire Amethyst zig-zagging towards Trinidad, where she managed to lose her pursuer.

During the early morning, the U-154 stopped its engines, to ascertain where the Empire Amethyst was and travelled in that direction and finding the ship a little on.   Five minutes before 6, the U-154 fired the first of the two torpedoes which hit under the bridge, the second hitting and exploded forward of the engine room.  The Empire Amethyst exploded in a mass of flames and sunk within with the loss of 47 crew.

Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island)
1820-1957

One of those crew, that lost his live was 17-year-old, Sailor Herbert George Williams.  Williams who travelled on the British Industry, leaving Swansea and arrived at New York, on 9^th October 1941.  Was it here that he joined the Empire Amethyst?

Merchant Seaman Deaths
1939-1953
Herbert George Williams death was registered May 1943

 Williams was the son of Herbert John and Helene Alice Williams, of 120 Townhill Road, Mayhill, Swansea.  Herbert John was an Railway Checker.

 

 

 William is commemorated on his parent’s grave, at Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapelyard, as well along with the crew member on Tower Hill Memorial.