George Lewis – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Trekieve

Fireman and Trimmer George Lewis – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Trekieve

Who Was Mrs. Lewis?

Introduction to George Lewis

So who was Mrs. Lewis, the woman who married George Lewis? Her husband, George Lewis, was born in 1877 in Swansea, though little is recorded about his early life or family background. Like many men of the South Wales ports, he found work in the Mercantile Marine, serving aboard steamships carrying vital cargo during the First World War.

Service During the First World War

Fireman and Trimmer Aboard S.S. Trekieve

George Lewis served as a Fireman and Trimmer aboard the S.S. Trekieve, a cargo steamer belonging to the Hain Steamship Company, a prominent Cornish shipping line whose vessels traditionally carried “Tre–” names. As a fireman and trimmer, George worked in the ship’s stokehold, shovelling coal, tending the boilers, and keeping steam power steady—one of the hardest and hottest jobs at sea.

Loss at Sea – 18^th April 1917

The Trekieve transported essential wartime goods such as coal, grain, and general cargo, and like most merchant vessels, sailed unarmed or only lightly armed. This made her extremely vulnerable during Germany’s campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare. On 18^th April 1917, the Trekieve was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat. Several members of the crew, including George Lewis, were lost with the vessel. As with so many merchant sailors of the period, he has no known grave but the sea. His name is recorded on the Tower Hill Memorial in London alongside thousands of fellow seafarers who died in the service of their country.

The U-boat That Sank S.S. Trekieve

Although the exact submarine responsible varies in surviving accounts, the Trekieve was one of many merchant ships targeted during Germany’s aggressive U-boat campaign in 1917. German submarines operating in the Western Approaches and the English Channel routinely attacked unarmed cargo steamers, aiming to starve Britain of supplies. These U-boats patrolled busy shipping lanes, attacking without warning, often using a single torpedo to send a vessel to the bottom within minutes. The sinking of the Trekieve was part of this wider campaign, which claimed hundreds of merchant ships in early 1917 and ultimately led to the introduction of the convoy system later that year to protect vessels like hers.

Legacy and Commemoration of George Lewis

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

Like many merchant seafarers, George Lewis served far from the front lines but faced dangers every bit as real and deadly. The work of a fireman in the stokehold was demanding, exhausting, and often carried out in complete isolation below deck—yet it was vital to keeping the ship moving and supplying Britain during wartime. George’s sacrifice reflects the essential role of the Mercantile Marine in sustaining the nation during the First World War. His name is preserved on the Tower Hill Memorial, ensuring that although he was lost at sea, he is not forgotten. His service stands as a lasting testament to the courage, endurance, and quiet heroism of the merchant sailors who kept Britain supplied at great personal risk.