James Robert Watkinson – Steam Trawler - Khartoum

Second Hand James Robert Watkinson – Steam Trawler, Khartoum

Early Life and Family Background

James Robert Watkinson was born in 1875 in Hull, the only known child of Robert Watkinson and Elizabeth Butler, who had married in 1865 in Sculcoates, Yorkshire.

1881 Census

The only census in which James appears is the 1881 Census, which records the family living at 13 Caroline Street, Sculcoates. Robert is absent from the return, while Elizabeth, aged 40, is listed as head of the household and working as a Dressmaker. Her son, James, aged 5, was attending school. Also residing with them were Elizabeth’s widowed mother, Jane Harrison, 62, employed as a Lady Help, and Emily Cousins, 27, a visitor in service.

In 1897, James married Margaret Ann Fall in Hull, and the couple later moved to Swansea, settling at 5 Albert Row.

Service at Sea – Steam Trawler Khartoum

By the time of the First World War, James Watkinson was serving as a Second Hand aboard the steam trawler S.T. Khartoum, a vessel operating in the dangerous waters of the North Sea and English Channel. “Second Hand” was the title given to the second-in-command of a fishing trawler, responsible for navigation, deck operations, and supporting the skipper in all aspects of running the vessel—an experienced and trusted role.

On 26^th March 1916, while engaged in fishing operations, the Khartoum struck a German mine laid by UC-5. The explosion destroyed the vessel, and James Robert Watkinson was among those killed. As with many wartime losses involving small coastal craft, no remains were recovered.

The Steam Trawler Khartoum

The S.T. Khartoum was one of the many British steam trawlers enlisted into wartime service, continuing to fish in dangerous waters to help supply food for the population while also reporting submarine sightings and hazards. These vessels operated with little protection and were highly vulnerable to mines laid in the shallow approaches around Britain. By 1916, German minelaying submarines had turned the North Sea into one of the most treacherous maritime zones in the world. The Khartoum’s loss was one of many suffered by the fishing fleets that continued to work despite wartime dangers.

German Submarine UC-5

UC-5 was a Type UC I German minelaying submarine commissioned in 1915. Compact and purpose-built for dropping mines in shallow coastal waters, she displaced 168 tons surfaced and 183 tons submerged, carried a crew of 14, and was armed with twelve mines, six mine tubes, and a machine gun for defence. Operating mainly in the English Channel and southern North Sea, UC-5 became one of Germany’s most active minelayers, responsible for numerous sinkings—including the mine that destroyed the Khartoum. In April 1916, she ran aground on the Shipwash Sands near Harwich and was captured intact by the Royal Navy. Displayed as a war trophy in Britain, UC-5 offered the Allies rare insight into German U-boat capabilities and minelaying strategies.

Commemoration

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

With no known grave but the sea, James Robert Watkinson is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. The memorial honours the men of the Mercantile Marine and Merchant Navy lost during the First World War whose bodies were never recovered.

Legacy

The death of James Watkinson reflects the peril faced by fishermen and small-boat mariners during the war, who continued their work despite the menace of mines and submarines. As Second Hand of the Khartoum, he served in one of the most hazardous civilian occupations of the conflict. His story represents the often-overlooked sacrifices made by the fishing communities of Britain, whose contributions were vital to sustaining the nation throughout the war years.