William Henry Page – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Linwood

Cook William Henry Page – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Linwood

Early Life and Family Background

Birth and Parentage

William Henry Page was born in 1881 in Swansea, the son of Charles Page and Jane Davies, who married in 1878 in Swansea. He grew up in the Hafod area; a district closely tied to Swansea’s industrial and maritime trades.

1881 Census

The 1881 Census records the Page family living at 7 Glyn Street, Hafod, Swansea.
William’s father, Charles, aged 23, worked as an Engine Driver, while his mother Jane was 20 years old. They had two young children: Mary Ann, aged 19 months, and William, then just 3 months old.

1891 Census

By 1891, Charles was not at home; he was serving at sea as a Donkeyman aboard the vessel Dewdrop, which at the time lay off Mumbles Head.

1891 Census

The remainder of the family were still at 7 Glyn Street. Jane, now 29, was caring for their children:
Mary W. (11), William H. (10), Lizzie J. (8), Charles F. (5), and Sidney (1).
William was listed as attending school.

William’s father Charles Page died in 1900. William does not appear on the 1901 Census, likely due to early employment at sea.

William Henry Page and Helen Davies
marriage certificate
St. Mary's Church

In 1904, William married Helen Davies at St. Mary’s Church, Swansea. His marriage certificate records his occupation as Ship’s Steward, reflecting his work at sea.

1911 Census

By 1911, William had returned to the family home at 6 Glyn Street, Hafod, likely during a period ashore. His mother Jane, aged 49, worked as a Laundress, and several of William’s siblings still lived at home:
Mary Ann (31), Elizabeth J. (28), Frederick C. (25), a Time and Store Keeper, Sidney (21), a Chauffeur, Rose L. (18), In Service, and Mildred L. (14).
William, then 30, was listed as married and employed as a Cook.

Service at Sea – S.S. Linwood

William continued his maritime career as a Cook aboard the S.S. Linwood; a British steamer engaged in transporting cargo during the First World War. As ship’s cook, he was responsible for feeding the crew and maintaining vital routines aboard the vessel—an essential role, especially on long and dangerous wartime voyages.

Loss of the S.S. Linwood

On 22^nd January 1917, the Linwood sailed from Gibraltar bound for Maryport, carrying a cargo of iron ore. After leaving Gibraltar, the vessel was not seen again. She disappeared without sending any distress signal and was later posted missing with all hands.

Although the exact cause remains unknown, many merchant ships lost in the area during this period were victims of German U-boats or mines laid in the approaches to the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The fate of the Linwood is consistent with such losses.

Commemoration

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

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

As William Henry Page has no known grave but the sea, his name is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London. This memorial honours the members of the Mercantile Marine who died during both World Wars without a known final resting place. William’s inclusion ensures that his service and sacrifice continue to be recognised alongside thousands of fellow merchant seafarers.

Legacy

William Henry Page’s life reflects the long-standing connection between Swansea’s working families and the sea. A ship’s cook, he played a vital role aboard the Linwood, supporting the crew during voyages undertaken under constant threat from enemy action. His disappearance at sea underscores the perilous conditions faced by merchant mariners, whose essential work kept Britain supplied throughout the war.

His story also sheds light on the impact of maritime loss on local families. William left behind a wife and a large extended family in Swansea, who, like many others, received no certainty about the circumstances of his death—only the knowledge that he had never returned. His legacy lives on in the town’s maritime memory and in the enduring recognition of the sacrifices made by the Mercantile Marine during the First World War.