Paul Auguste – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Main

Steward Paul Auguste – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Main

Early Life and Family Background

Among the names commemorated on the Swansea Cenotaph is Paul Auguste, a seafarer whose life reflects the global reach of Britain’s merchant service during the First World War.

Paul Auguste was born in Martinique in 1849, the son of Joseph and Jane Auguste. He later married Catherine Sweeney, and together they lived at 12 Caebricks Road, Cwmbwrla, Swansea.

Service in the Mercantile Marine

Despite his age, Paul continued to work at sea during the war, serving as a Steward aboard the S.S. Main. Stewards played an important role aboard merchant vessels, attending to the daily needs of officers and crew, maintaining order and provisions, and ensuring the ship’s welfare during long and often hazardous voyages.

At the time of his death, Paul was 68 years old, demonstrating remarkable endurance and commitment to duty in an era when many men of his age had long since retired from the sea.

The S.S. Main

The S.S. Main was a British steam collier of 715 gross register tons, built in 1904 by Mackie & Thomson Ltd., Glasgow, and operated by the Main Colliery Co. Ltd. (Cardiff). The ship was used for transporting coal and general cargo between British and Irish ports.

On 9^th October 1917, while en route from Belfast to Liverpool in ballast, the Main was stopped and sunk by gunfire from the German submarine UC-75, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Johannes Lohs, approximately 1.5 miles east of Drummore, in Luce Bay, Wigtownshire. The attack caused the vessel to sink rapidly, resulting in the loss of twelve crew members, including Steward Paul Auguste.

The wreck of the Main was later salvaged on 7^th August 1920 by the Ardrossan Salvage Company, repaired, and returned to service in 1922; a rare case of a wartime casualty being successfully recovered.

The loss of the Main highlights the grave dangers faced by Britain’s coastal merchant fleet. Even within home waters, merchant ships were relentlessly targeted by submarines attempting to disrupt essential supply routes.

The German Submarine UC-75

The UC-75 was a Type UC II minelaying submarine of the Imperial German Navy, launched on 6 November 1916 and commissioned on 6 December 1916. Built at Hamburg by Blohm & Voss, the submarine displaced 410 tons on the surface and 493 tons submerged, with a length of 50.45 metres, a beam of 5.22 metres, and a crew complement of 26 men.

Powered by diesel and electric engines, UC-75 had a maximum speed of 11.8 knots surfaced and 7.3 knots submerged. She was armed with six mine tubes (capable of carrying up to 18 UC-200 mines), three 50 cm torpedo tubes, and an 8.8 cm deck gun, making her a versatile and deadly weapon of commerce warfare.

During her operational service, UC-75 completed 13 patrols, sinking 59 merchant ships and damaging many others across the North Sea and western approaches.

On 9^th October 1917, UC-75 attacked and sank the S.S. Main off the coast of Drummore, Wigtownshire. Her commander at the time, Kapitänleutnant Johannes Lohs, was one of Germany’s most successful U-boat officers. UC-75 continued to operate until 31^st May 1918, when she was rammed and sunk by HMS Fairy. Seventeen of her crew were killed, and fourteen survived.

The destruction of UC-75 the following year ended the career of one of Germany’s most active U-boats in the British coastal campaign, though not before she had left a lasting mark on local communities like Swansea through losses such as that of the S.S. Main.

Death and Commemoration

Paul Auguste
Mochrum Parish Churchyard, 
Wigtownshire
credit - findagrave

Paul Auguste died in the sinking of the S.S. Main on 9^th October 1917, aged 68. He is buried in Mochrum Parish Churchyard, Wigtownshire, where his grave is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. His name is also commemorated on the Swansea Cenotaph, ensuring that his life and service are remembered both locally and nationally.

Legacy

Born in the Caribbean and later settling in Swansea, Paul Auguste exemplified the international character of the Mercantile Marine. His lifelong service at sea and his death in Scottish waters reflect the shared courage of merchant sailors from across the world who faced danger daily to sustain Britain during wartime. His name endures as part of Swansea’s proud maritime heritage and the global story of sacrifice at sea.