Henry Albert Johnson & Henry Edward Dodd

The Double Tragedy of H.M. Trawler Lord Wakefield

Seaman Cook Henry Albert Johnson

Early Life

Henry Albert Johnson was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, in 1905, the son of Henry James Johnson and Edith Mary Johnson.

1911 Census

At the time of the 1911 Census, the family was living at Row 93, No. 37, Great Yarmouth. Henry James, then 32, worked as a general dealer, while Edith Mary, 33, kept the household. Their children were Edith Helen (11), Hilda May (10), Doris Maud (8), Harry [Henry] Albert (6), Owen Arthur (4), and Cyril George (2).

1921 Census

By the 1921 Census, the family had moved to 15 Row 105, Great Yarmouth. Henry James, now 42, was employed as a general labourer for Great Yarmouth Corporation, but was out of work at the time, while Edith was 43. Their children at home were Hilda (20), Harry [Henry] (16), Owen (14), Cyril (12), Ivy (9), Lena (7), and Sydney, a 3-month-old infant. A lodger, Sydney Holt, aged 22, was working at Barron’s Marine Parade Amusements.

Henry Albert Johnson and Lillian Maud Kemp
marriage certificate 

On Christmas Day 1925, Henry married Lillian Maud Kemp at Great Yarmouth St. Nicholas with St. Peter, St. John, St. Andrew, St. James, St. Paul and St. Luke. The couple went on to have four sons: Donald, Alan, Keith, and Michael.

Death

Herald of Wales

Henry Albert Johnson
Danygraig Cemetery
credit - findagrave

By the outbreak of the Second World War, Henry was serving as a Seaman Cook aboard H.M. Trawler Lord Wakefield. On the night of 28^th February 1940, he was last seen attempting to board the ship in Swansea’s dry dock. In the blackout, he lost his footing and fell into the dock. The following morning, 1^st March 1940, his body was recovered from the mud at the bottom of the dock.

At the inquest, it was revealed that the gangway was unlit due to blackout restrictions; the shaded light at the dock entrance only reached the quayside. Henry was 35 years old. He was buried at Danygraig Cemetery, Swansea.

Skipper Henry Edward Dodd, R.D.

Early Life

Henry Edward Dodd was born in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, in 1894, the son of Henry and Agnes Dodd.

1901 Census

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 22 Greville Road, Milford. Henry senior, aged 36, was a fisherman, while Agnes, 32, kept the home. Their son Henry Edward was then 7 years old.

Attestation Papers

By the First World War, the family had moved to Swansea. Henry Edward enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery and served for the duration of the war. His attestation papers record his address as 1 Miers Street, St. Thomas, Swansea.

Henry Edward Dodd and Annie Eliza Kingston
marriage certificate
St. Thomas church

In 1921, Henry married Annie Eliza Kingston at St. Thomas Church, Swansea. 

1921 Census

His occupation at the time was given as fisherman, and the couple were living at 15 Hanover Street, with Henry working for the Castle Steam Trawling Company.

1939 Register

By the 1939 Register, Henry and Annie were recorded at 29 Sebastopol Street, St. Thomas.

Fate of H.M. Trawler Lord Wakefield

H.M. Trawler Lord Wakefield 

H.M. Trawler Lord Wakefield (Pennant Number FY 170) was built by Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd. of Selby, launched on 4 November 1933, and completed the following month. A vessel of 418 tons displacement, she was taken over by the Admiralty in August 1939 for wartime service as an anti-submarine trawler and was based at Swansea with the 17th Anti-Submarine Group.

On 29 July 1944, during operations off Omaha Beach as part of the Western Task Force in the Normandy campaign, the Lord Wakefield came under attack by German aircraft. Bombed and fatally damaged, she foundered with the loss of 26 crew, including her captain, Henry Edward Dodd, R.D.

Herald of Wales

Henry Edward Dodd
Lowestoft Naval Memorial
credit - findagrave

Henry’s name is commemorated on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, along with those of his shipmates who were lost.

Legacy

The Lord Wakefield’s history carries with it two great tragedies linked to Swansea. In March 1940, Seaman Cook Henry Albert Johnson, aged just 35, was killed in a wartime accident while trying to board the ship and was buried at Danygraig Cemetery. Four years later, in July 1944, the ship herself was sunk off Normandy, taking with her Captain Henry Edward Dodd and most of her crew.

Together, their stories reflect the dangers faced both at home and at sea during wartime — from accidents in blackout conditions to the perils of combat in hostile waters. Their names, preserved in headstones and memorials, form part of Swansea’s enduring wartime history.