Sydney Johnson Burnett – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Alacrity

Chief Engineer Sydney Johnson Burnett – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Alacrity

Early Life and Family Background

William Burnett and Emma Johnson
marriage certificate
St. Mary's church

Sydney Johnson Burnett was born in December 1887 in Swansea, the younger son of William Burnett and Emma Johnson, who were married in 1863 at St. Mary’s Church, Swansea. The marriage certificate records that Emma signed her name with an “X,” indicating she was unable to write.

1891 Census

At the time of the 1891 Census, the Burnett family were living at 6 York Street, Swansea. William, aged 49, born in London, worked as a Pilot, while Emma, aged 47, managed the household. Their children were Emily (24), Florence (13), Edward A. (11), Beatrice (6), and Sydney (3).

1901 Census

By the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 15 Russell Street, Swansea. William, now 56, continued to work as a Pilot at sea, and Emma, aged 54, remained at home. Living with them were William John (28), a Marine Engineer; Florence L. (22); Edward L. (21), a Dock Clerk; Beatrice (19); and Sydney (13), who was still attending school.

In 1908, Emma Burnett died at the age of 64, leaving William a widower.

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, William Burnett, aged 68, was residing at 1 Brynymor Crescent, Swansea, still employed as a Pilot at sea. Living with him were Sydney (23), now a Marine Engineer, and Beatrice (29), a Piano Teacher. Also present were Charles S. Baul, aged 23, a Shipowner’s Local Representative from Lambeth, who boarded with the family, and Mary Jones, a 22-year-old servant.

Marriage and Service

In later life, Sydney Burnett married Mary Jones, of 80 Cromwell Street, Swansea. By this time, Sydney had established himself as a professional engineer in the Mercantile Marine. His technical ability and dedication led to his appointment as Chief Engineer, one of the most responsible and demanding positions aboard a merchant vessel.

The S.S. Alacrity

The S.S. Alacrity was a British merchant steamship engaged in coastal and near-continental trade, transporting supplies and materials during the First World War.

In March 1916, the Alacrity was reported missing and later confirmed to have struck a mine and sunk in the North Sea. The loss is recorded in the Register of British Merchant Ships Lost During the War, which notes that she disappeared while on passage from Le Havre to Seaham Harbour, sailing in ballast.

It is believed that the minefield responsible for her loss was laid by the German submarine UC-13, which was active in the area during that period. No survivors were reported, and the exact position of the wreck was never confirmed.

The disappearance of the Alacrity highlights the extreme dangers faced by merchant ships even in home waters. Mines, laid unseen beneath the sea, could destroy vessels without warning, making every voyage a test of courage and endurance for their crews.

The German Submarine UC-13

The UC-13 was a Type UC I minelaying submarine of the Imperial German Navy, ordered on 23 November 1914, launched on 11^th May 1915, and commissioned on 15 May 1915. Built by AG Vulcan, Hamburg, the submarine displaced 168 tons surfaced and 182 tons submerged, measured 33.99 metres in length, and had a complement of 14 men.

UC-13 carried six mine tubes, capable of deploying up to twelve mines, and was armed with a machine gun for self-defence. Though small and relatively slow, submarines of this type were designed specifically for near-shore minelaying — an extremely dangerous yet effective operation that claimed many merchant ships during the war.

During her brief operational career, UC-13 completed three patrols, laying mines that sank at least three merchant ships. The minefield believed to have claimed the S.S. Alacrity was one of several she deployed in 1915–1916 in the approaches to the English Channel and the southern North Sea.

On 29^th November 1915, while returning from a patrol, UC-13 ran aground 55 nautical miles east of the Bosporus and was scuttled by her crew to avoid capture. Her wreck was later inspected by Allied forces, confirming her final resting place in shallow water off the Turkish coast.

The small but deadly UC-13 exemplified the silent threat of the German minelaying submarines, which caused devastating losses to Allied merchant shipping throughout the war.

Service and Loss at Sea

Chief Engineer Sydney Johnson Burnett was serving aboard the S.S. Alacrity when she was lost on 20^th March 1916. As Chief Engineer, he was responsible for maintaining and managing the ship’s engines and machinery — work that demanded both expertise and composure under pressure.

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

The Registers and Indexes of Births, Marriages and Deaths of Passengers and Seamen at Sea list the Alacrity as “missing,” with all hands presumed lost. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that Sydney Burnett was 28 years old and married to Mary Jones, of 80 Cromwell Street, Swansea.

Commemoration

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

Chief Engineer Sydney Johnson Burnett 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.

Legacy

Sydney Johnson Burnett followed in his father’s maritime footsteps, rising through skill and dedication to the rank of Chief Engineer. His loss aboard the S.S. Alacrity in 1916 reflects the courage and professionalism of Swansea’s seafarers and the many men of the Mercantile Marine whose work sustained Britain’s wartime lifelines.

Though the Alacrity was lost without trace, the memory of her crew — and of Chief Engineer Burnett — endures as part of Swansea’s proud maritime heritage and the broader story of sacrifice at sea.