Edward Brooks – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Algarve

First Mate Edward Brooks – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Algarve

Early Life and Family Background

Edward Brooks was born in 1873 in Newport, the son of William Glass Brooks and Elizabeth Brooks.

1881 Census

The first census record for Edward appears in 1881, when he was living with his grandparents at 12 Clarence Terrace, Newport. His grandfather, Robert Brooks, aged 73, was born in Devon and employed as a Port Sanitary Inspector, while his grandmother, Mary, aged 72, managed the household. Also living with them were their grandchildren Lena, aged 11, and Robert, aged 8, both born in Newport.

1901 Census

By the 1901 Census, Edward was recorded at 81 Tewkesbury Street, Roath, Cardiff, residing with extended family. The head of the household, George, aged 28, worked at the Tube Works, and his wife Mary L., aged 26, had four children — Gwendoline (7), Mildred (5), George (4), and Charles (3). Also present was Edward Brooks, aged 28, described as a Mate in the Merchant Navy, along with his wife Annie C., aged 29, and their son George A. E., aged 1.

Edward Brooks married Annie Christina Johnson in 1899 in Swansea, beginning a family life closely connected with the city’s maritime community.

Family Life and Career

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, Edward was away at sea, while his wife Annie was recorded living at 31 Danygraig Road, St. Thomas, Swansea, with their children: George (11), Gladys (9), Trevor (6), Arthur (3), Irene (2), and Ivor (1).

Second Mate 
Certificate

First Mate
Certificate 

Edward’s maritime career was marked by dedication and professional advancement. He earned his Second Mate’s Certificate in 1894 and his First Mate’s Certificate in 1897, achievements that reflected both his competence and his years of service at sea.

Service in the Mercantile Marine

During the First World War, Edward Brooks served as First Mate aboard the S.S. Algarve. In this senior post, he was second-in-command to the ship’s master, responsible for navigation, safety, and the well-being of the crew. The role of First Mate was one of great trust and skill, particularly vital during wartime when merchant vessels faced continual threats from German submarines operating in British waters.

The S.S. Algarve

The S.S. Algarve was a British steam cargo vessel built in 1899, engaged in carrying general cargo and supplies vital to the war effort.

On 20^th October 1917, while sailing in the English Channel, approximately 15 miles west-south-west of Portland Bill, Dorset, the Algarve was torpedoed without warning by the German submarine UB-38. The explosion was devastating, and the ship sank rapidly, resulting in the loss of over twenty crew members, including First Mate Edward Brooks, aged 44.

The sinking of the Algarve took place during the height of Germany’s campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare, a strategy designed to isolate Britain by targeting all shipping—military and civilian alike—within its supply routes. The Algarve’s loss serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced daily by those who kept Britain’s maritime trade alive.

The German Submarine UB-38

The UB-38 was a Type UB II submarine of the Imperial German Navy, built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, and commissioned on 18 July 1916. Compact but deadly, she displaced 274 tons surfaced and 303 tons submerged, measured 36.9 metres in length, and carried a crew of 23 men.

UB-38 was armed with two 50 cm torpedo tubes, an 8.8 cm deck gun, and could carry up to six torpedoes. Despite her small size, the submarine was highly effective, capable of reaching 9 knots on the surface and almost 6 knots submerged.

Throughout her service, UB-38 conducted 21 patrols and was credited with sinking 47 merchant vessels, with a combined tonnage exceeding 47,000 tons. Among her victims was the S.S. Algarve, sunk on 20^th October 1917.

The submarine met her own end just a few months later, on 8^th February 1918, when she struck a mine in the English Channel while evading British destroyers. The explosion destroyed the vessel, and all hands were lost.

The short but destructive career of UB-38 epitomises the intense and unforgiving nature of the undersea war, which claimed the lives of countless merchant seamen like Edward Brooks.

Death and Commemoration

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

Edward Brooks lost his life on 20^th October 1917, when the S.S. Algarve was torpedoed in the English Channel. He was 44 years old. Like so many in the Mercantile Marine, he died not in combat but in service — performing his duty to sustain Britain’s maritime lifelines under the constant threat of attack.

His name 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.

Legacy

Edward Brooks devoted his life to the sea, steadily rising through the ranks to become a skilled and trusted First Mate. His career, courage, and sacrifice exemplify the steadfast spirit of the Mercantile Marine, whose men faced danger with quiet professionalism. The memory of his service aboard the S.S. Algarve and his loss in 1917 remain part of Swansea’s proud maritime heritage and a lasting testament to the human cost of war at sea.