James Woods – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Prince Abbas

 Donkeyman James Woods – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Prince Abbas

Early Life and Family Background

James Woods was born in 1864 in Dundalk, Ireland, the son of James Woods and Margaret Woods. Very few surviving records document his early life, but like many Irishmen of the late 19th century, he later travelled to South Wales—most likely seeking employment in Swansea’s busy maritime industries.

James married Elizabeth Jane Retullick, and the couple settled at 21 Orchard Street, Swansea, a district close to the town’s docks. His long maritime career ultimately led him into the engineering departments of merchant ships, where he served as a Donkeyman, operating auxiliary machinery essential to steamship operations.

Service at Sea – Donkeyman, S.S. Prince Abbas

James Woods served as a Donkeyman aboard the S.S. Prince Abbas. Donkeymen operated the “donkey engine,” a small auxiliary steam engine that powered pumps, winches, and cargo-handling equipment. The role required strength, technical skill, and endurance, and during wartime it carried considerable risk—engine-room personnel were among the most vulnerable in the event of a torpedo strike.

On 9^th July 1917, the S.S. Prince Abbas was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-52. The vessel went down rapidly, leaving little opportunity for escape. James Woods was among those who lost their lives.

The German Submarine U-52

The German submarine U-52 was a Type U 51 ocean-going U-boat, commissioned in 1916 during the height of Germany’s campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare. Measuring nearly 65 metres in length and displacing over 830 tons submerged, she carried four torpedo tubes, up to twelve torpedoes, and an 8.8 cm deck gun.

Designed for long-range patrols, U-52 operated in the North Atlantic, Irish Sea, and English Channel, striking merchant ships travelling along crucial supply routes. The attack that sank the S.S. Prince Abbas and claimed the life of James Woods formed part of the devastating 1917 campaign, during which thousands of merchant seafarers were killed.

Commemoration

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

With no known grave but the sea, James Woods is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London. The memorial honours the men and women of the Mercantile Marine and Merchant Navy who died in both World Wars and have no final resting place. His name is inscribed among those of many fellow mariners who served Britain in wartime at great personal risk.

Legacy

James Woods represents the many mariners from Ireland and Swansea who served in the Mercantile Marine with little recognition during their lives. His death in 1917 reflects the extraordinary dangers faced by those working in the engine-room departments of merchant ships—men whose labour was essential to keeping supply routes open during the First World War. His sacrifice is preserved through the Tower Hill Memorial, ensuring his service is not forgotten.