John Lewis – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Cottingham

Fireman John Lewis – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Cottingham

Early Life and Family Background

Birth and Parentage

Another Swansea merchant seaman who lost his life during the First World War was John Lewis, although only limited information about him survives. Born in 1885 in Carmarthen, he was the son of William and Elizabeth Lewis, and later married Sarah Bragg. He may have been among the oldest of Swansea’s merchant seafarers to die in the conflict.

1891 Census

According to the 1891 Census, the family were living at 111 Strand, Swansea. John, then aged 34, was recorded as a Seaman, while his wife Sarah, aged 33, was also present. Sarah’s daughters from her previous marriage—Rachel, 16, and Mary J. Bragg, 14—were both working as domestic servants.

Also living in the household were John’s parents, William Lewis, a 70-year-old Dock Labourer, and Elizabeth Lewis, aged 71. The home was shared with several boarders, including William Lloyd, a 48-year-old widower and Dock Labourer, along with his children Frances, 12; Sarah, 10; and William, 14, all schoolchildren. Additional boarders included William Davis, 30; John Davis, 42; and Benjamin Guy, 42, all employed as Coal Trimmers; and John Tranior, 32, who worked as a Seaman.

Service During the First World War

S.S. Cottingham

The S.S. Cottingham was a British merchant steamer operating during the early years of the First World War. John Lewis served aboard the vessel as a Fireman, undertaking physically demanding work in the ship’s stokehold, feeding coal to the boilers and maintaining steam power. As with most merchant vessels of the period, the Cottingham was part of the British Mercantile Marine, responsible for transporting essential supplies, raw materials, and industrial goods vital to the war effort. Like many cargo steamers, she sailed unarmed or only lightly armed, making her highly vulnerable to German U-boat attacks.

The Cottingham operated in the busy coastal and near-continental shipping lanes connecting Britain to France, the Low Countries, and other important ports. These routes became increasingly dangerous as German submarines intensified attacks on merchant shipping in an attempt to cut off Britain’s supplies.

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

On 26^th December 1915, the Cottingham was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. Several members of the crew, including Fireman John Lewis, were lost when the ship went down. No remains were recovered, leaving the men with no known grave but the sea. The crew of the Cottingham are honoured on the Tower Hill Memorial in London, which commemorates merchant seafarers from both World Wars who died in service and whose resting place is unknown.

The U-boat Threat to the S.S. Cottingham

During the early years of the First World War, German submarines—known as U-boats—posed an increasing danger to British merchant shipping. Operating in the Western Approaches, the Irish Sea, and the English Channel, these submarines targeted unarmed or lightly armed merchant vessels in an effort to cut off supplies vital to Britain’s survival. By late 1915, Germany’s campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare meant that ships like the Cottingham could be attacked without warning.

The Cottingham was one of many merchant vessels torpedoed during this period. German submarines routinely patrolled the busy coastal routes used by cargo steamers transporting coal, grain, and other essential goods. They often struck swiftly, using a single torpedo to cripple or sink a ship within minutes. Firemen and engine-room personnel—working deep below deck—were especially vulnerable, with little chance of escape.

Although the exact submarine responsible for the sinking of the S.S. Cottingham on 26^th December 1915 is not confirmed in surviving records, her loss reflects the broader pattern of U-boat attacks that claimed hundreds of British merchant vessels that year. The men who served aboard these ships faced extreme danger every time they sailed, and the sinking of the Cottingham illustrates the perilous conditions under which John Lewis and his fellow mariners worked.

Legacy

John Lewis’s service represents the courage and endurance of Britain’s merchant seafarers during the First World War. His work as a fireman in the stokehold—physically exhausting, dangerous, and essential—was crucial to keeping the ship operational at a time when merchant vessels were lifelines for the nation. His loss highlights the often-overlooked sacrifices made by men of the Mercantile Marine, who faced deadly threats without the protection afforded to naval warships. John stands as one of many whose quiet service underpinned the wider war effort.

Commemoration

Although he has no known grave, the name of Fireman John Lewis is permanently recorded on the Tower Hill Memorial in London, where the sacrifices of merchant sailors lost at sea are honoured. His inclusion on this memorial ensures that he is remembered alongside thousands of fellow seafarers who gave their lives in the line of duty. His story forms part of Swansea’s rich maritime heritage and serves as a reminder of the bravery of those who kept Britain supplied during one of the most perilous periods in its history.