ohn Ogborne Surridge – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Dunbarmoor

First Mate John Ogborne Surridge – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Dunbarmoor

Early Life and Family Background

Octavius Surridge and Sarah Ann Ogborne
marriage certificate
parish church, Winsombe, Somerset

John Ogborne Surridge was born in 1870 in Swansea, the youngest child of Octavius Surridge and Sarah Ann Ogborne, who had married in December 1858 in Winscombe, Somerset.

1871 Census

By the 1871 Census, the family were living in Bishopston, Swansea. Octavius, aged 35 and born in Suffolk, worked as a Farmer, while Sarah, also 35 and born in Somerset, managed the home. Their children at the time were Mark (6), Ivor (5), and baby John (10 months), with the two older boys attending school.

1881 Census

In the 1881 Census, both parents are absent—likely deceased—leaving Ivor, aged 14, recorded as head of the household, living in Gower with his younger brother John, then aged 11.

1891 Census

By 1891, John was living with his elder brother Mark at 2 Church Street, Aberavon, where he was recorded as a Sailor, having already begun work at sea.

 

Master Certificate

His maritime career progressed steadily, and in 1902, he earned his Master’s Certificate, as recorded in the UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates registers.

John later married Isabella James, and the couple settled at 1 Eagle Street, Port Talbot, where he continued his seafaring career.

Service at Sea – First Mate, S.S. Dunbarmoor

By the First World War, John was serving as First Mate aboard the S.S. Dunbarmoor, a senior deck officer responsible for navigation, deck crew supervision, and the safe working of the ship. His position made him the second-in-command under the Master, requiring extensive experience, leadership, and deep practical knowledge of seamanship.

Registers and Indexes of Births, Marriages, and Deaths of Passengers and Seamen at Sea

On 8^th March 1917, while on passage during heightened U-boat activity, the S.S. Dunbarmoor was attacked and sunk by the German submarine U-44. John Ogborne Surridge lost his life in the attack.

S.S. Dunbarmoor

The S.S. Dunbarmoor was a British merchant steamer engaged in long-distance cargo work during the First World War. Merchant ships of her type transported essential materials that were vital to Britain’s survival during the war, often sailing unescorted and only lightly armed.

By early 1917, the German Navy had intensified its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, meaning merchant vessels like the Dunbarmoor could be sunk without warning. The ship’s loss on 8 March 1917 reflects the extreme danger faced by merchant sailors serving on essential trade routes targeted by German U-boats.

German Submarine U-44

U-44 was a large German Type U-43 submarine, commissioned into the Imperial German Navy in 1915. Designed for long-range patrols, she carried torpedoes and deck guns, enabling her to attack merchant vessels across the Atlantic and waters surrounding the British Isles.

Under experienced command, U-44 sank numerous Allied merchant ships, including the S.S. Dunbarmoor. Like many U-boats operating at the time, she aimed to disrupt Britain’s food supplies and war materials by targeting unarmed merchant steamers.

U-44 herself was lost later in 1917, disappearing with all hands—one of many German submarines destroyed during the intensifying naval conflict.

Commemoration

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

John Ogborne Surridge, having no known grave but the sea, is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London. The memorial honours those of the Mercantile Marine who died in both World Wars and whose remains were never recovered. His name stands alongside thousands of merchant seafarers who kept Britain supplied at the cost of their lives.

Legacy

The life and service of John Ogborne Surridge exemplify the dedication, professionalism, and quiet courage of Britain’s merchant sailors during the First World War. Rising from humble beginnings to First Mate, he shouldered significant responsibility aboard ships that operated under constant threat from enemy submarines.
His death aboard the Dunbarmoor highlights the enormous risks faced by merchant crews, whose sacrifices often went unrecognised despite their critical role in sustaining the nation. His service remains part of the wider story of Swansea’s maritime community, which contributed profoundly—and at great cost—to the war effort.