Alfred Davies – Mercantile Marine - Steam Trawler Taurus

Second Engineer Alfred Davies – Mercantile Marine, Steam Trawler Taurus

Who Was Alfred Davies?

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorates Alfred Davies, who lost his life on 14^th July 1917 while serving aboard the Steam Trawler Taurus. At the time of his death, Alfred held the rank of Second Engineer and was 51 years old.

Although little is known about Alfred’s early life or family background, his service as an engineer aboard a steam trawler places him among the many experienced seafarers who brought their technical skill and dedication to Britain’s wartime fleet.

During the First World War, many fishing trawlers like the Taurus were requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted for military purposes such as minesweeping, patrol, and anti-submarine operations. These duties were perilous, often conducted in dangerous coastal waters where German U-boats and mines posed a constant threat.

The loss of the Taurus on 14^th July 1917 is part of this broader story of sacrifice — the many men of the Mercantile Marine and fishing fleets who risked their lives to keep Britain’s seas open and her shores safe.

The Steam Trawler Taurus

The S.T. Taurus was a British steam trawler of 128 gross register tons, built in 1883 by Earles Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., Hull, for the Grimsby & North Sea Steam Trawling Co. Ltd. She was registered at Aberdeen under the official number A.655.

Like many trawlers of her era, the Taurus was designed for fishing in the rough waters of the North Sea. However, with the outbreak of the First World War, she, like hundreds of other vessels, was requisitioned for war service, likely converted for minesweeping or patrol duties to help protect Britain’s coastal waters.

On 14^th July 1917, the Taurus was lost east of the Shetland Islands, believed to have struck a naval mine. All aboard were killed in the explosion. The precise circumstances remain uncertain, but it is almost certain that the trawler fell victim to the extensive minefields laid by German U-boats in northern waters during that period.

The Taurus’s loss demonstrates the extreme dangers faced by small auxiliary vessels — ships not designed for war but pressed into service out of necessity. Their crews, including civilian fishermen and engineers, operated under constant threat while performing critical duties that often went unheralded.

Commemoration

S.T. Taurus
Tower Hill Memorial, London
credit - Benjidog Historical Research Resources:
The Merchant Navy Memorial 

Second Engineer Alfred Davies is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, which honours the men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died at sea during the First World War and have no known grave but the ocean.

His name stands among thousands of others who gave their lives in the line of duty — men of every age, rank, and background who faced the perils of the sea in the service of their country.

Legacy

At the age of 51, Alfred Davies was an experienced seaman who continued to serve despite the grave risks of wartime duty. His loss aboard the Taurus reminds us of the courage and professionalism of those who worked behind the scenes to maintain Britain’s maritime defences.

While his ship was small, its role — and the sacrifice of its crew — were of great significance. The story of Alfred Davies and the Taurus stands as a poignant testament to the bravery of the engineers, trawlermen, and mariners of the Mercantile Marine, whose service ensured that Britain endured through one of its darkest chapters.