John Llewellyn Davies – Mercantile Marine - Franz Fischer
Master John Llewellyn Davies – Mercantile Marine, Franz Fischer
Early Life and Family Background
John Llewellyn Davies was born in 1857, in Newport,
Monmouthshire, the son of John Davies and Grace Griffiths,
who were married in 1843 in Newport.
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| 1861 Census |
At the time of the 1861 Census, John senior was absent, likely away at sea, while the rest of the family were living at 91 Gregland Street, Newport. Grace, aged 44, was recorded as a Mariner’s Wife. Present with her were her children: Anne (17), a Milliner; Grace (13); Elizabeth (10), both attending school; Mary (9); John (5); and David (2). Also in the household was Sarah Morgans (18), employed as a servant.
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| 1871 Census |
By the 1871 Census, the family had moved to the Ship Inn, Newport. Grace, aged 52, continued to be listed as a Mariner’s Wife, and living with her were Grace (19), John (14), and David (12).
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| Only Mate Certificate |
In 1878, John Llewellyn Davies was awarded his Only Mate Certificate, marking a significant step in his professional seafaring career.
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| 1881 Census |
Marriage and Later Life
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| 1901 Census |
By the time of the 1901 Census, John Davies, aged 44, had settled in Swansea, living at 21 Rose Hill Terrace. He was recorded as a Master Mariner, residing with his wife Letitia (or Lettie), aged 38, who was born in Carmarthenshire, and their young son David, aged 1.
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| 1911 Census |
Ten years later, the 1911 Census records the family living at 16 Eversley Road, Sketty, Swansea. John, aged 54, continued his long career as a Mariner, while Lettie, aged 48, managed the home. Their son David, aged 11, was attending school.
Service and Loss at Sea
By the time of the First World War, John Llewellyn
Davies had achieved the rank of Master Mariner and was serving as Master
of the Franz Fischer, a British merchant vessel carrying coal from
the River Tyne to London.
On 1st February 1916, the Franz Fischer
was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-83 in the
North Sea, approximately 40 miles east of the Longstone Lighthouse,
off the Northumberland coast. The ship went down rapidly, and all 17
crew members, including Captain John Llewellyn Davies, were lost.
The attack took place during Germany’s campaign of unrestricted
submarine warfare, which aimed to disrupt Britain’s maritime supply routes
and starve the nation into submission. Merchant ships like the Franz Fischer,
though unarmed and crewed by civilians, were frequent targets.
The Franz Fischer
The Franz Fischer was a British steam cargo vessel
of 1,075 gross register tons, built in 1898 by J. Priestman
& Co. Ltd., Sunderland, and owned by the Northumbrian Steam Fishing
Co. Ltd.
Like many similar vessels of her time, the Franz Fischer
was engaged in the coal trade, transporting fuel vital to Britain’s
naval and industrial power. On her final voyage, she was sailing from the
Tyne to London when she encountered U-83, commanded by Kapitänleutnant
Bruno Hoppe.
The submarine fired a torpedo without warning, striking the Franz
Fischer amidships and sinking her almost immediately. None of the crew
survived, and her wreck now rests in the North Sea, a silent reminder of
the countless merchant ships lost to U-boats during the war.
The German Submarine U-83
The U-83 was a Type U 81 submarine of
the Imperial German Navy, commissioned on 6 September 1916. She
displaced 808 tons surfaced and 946 tons submerged, measuring 70
metres in length, with a beam of 6.3 metres and a draught of 4
metres.
Her armament included four 50 cm torpedo tubes (two
at the bow and two at the stern), 12 to 16 torpedoes, and a 10.5 cm
deck gun, making her a formidable adversary to any merchant vessel.
Under the command of Kapitänleutnant Bruno Hoppe, U-83
conducted two war patrols, sinking six ships with a combined
total of approximately 6,450 gross tons.
Her own fate came shortly after the sinking of the Franz
Fischer. On 17th February 1917, U-83 was sunk
by gunfire from the British Q-ship HMS Farnborough in the Atlantic
Ocean, at position 51°34′ N, 11°23′ W. Of her crew, 35 were
killed and only one survived.
Commemoration
Master John Llewellyn Davies 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.Franz Fischer
Tower Hill Memorial, London
credit - Benjidog Historical Research Resources:
The Merchant Navy Memorial
Legacy
A lifelong sailor, John Llewellyn Davies rose from a
mariner’s son in Newport to a respected ship’s master in Swansea. His career,
dedication, and ultimate sacrifice aboard the Franz Fischer reflect the
courage and endurance of the Mercantile Marine, whose members braved the
most perilous seas to sustain Britain during the war.
At 58 years of age, Captain Davies was among the most
senior Swansea mariners to perish during the conflict — a man who spent his
life at sea, and who met his end there, performing his duty.
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