William Henry Phillips – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Sonnie
First Engineer William Henry Phillips – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Sonnie
Early Life and Background
Birth and Family
William Henry Phillips was born in 1873 in Merthyr Tydfil, the eldest son of William Phillips and Elizabeth Pound, who were married in 1869 in Merthyr.
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| 1881 Census |
The 1881 Census records the Phillips family living at 4 Railway Terrace, Merthyr Tydfil. Pembrokeshire-born William, aged 32, worked as a Coal Miner, while Elizabeth, aged 31, kept the home. Their children were William H., aged 8, attending school, and Alfred T., aged 1. Also present was Elizabeth’s father, Thomas Pound, a 60-year-old widower from Devon.
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| 1891 Census |
By 1891, William was no longer living at home. Instead, he appears as a lodger at 24 Cardiff Road, Merthyr Tydfil, the household of Mary A. Camm. Aged 18, he was employed as a Smith’s Striker, a physically demanding job assisting a blacksmith.
In 1897, William married Emily Jane Ackland in Swansea.
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| 1901 Census |
By the 1901 Census, the couple were living at 14 Richard Street, Swansea, where William, aged 28, was working as a Stationary Engine Driver, and Emily was 29.
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| 1911 Census |
The 1911 Census shows the couple still in the same neighbourhood, now at 16 Richard Street, Swansea. William, aged 37, had advanced in his profession and was employed as a Mariner Engineer. Emily, aged 28, kept the home, and also present was her widowed brother-in-law, William T. Hannay, aged 41, a Plumber.
Service at Sea – S.S. Sonnie
William served as First Engineer aboard the S.S. Sonnie,
a small British cargo steamer operating during the height of the First World
War. As First Engineer, he oversaw the ship’s machinery, engines, and
engine-room crew—an essential and demanding role requiring skill, technical
knowledge, and composure under pressure. On 11th August 1917,
while sailing in the English Channel, the Sonnie was torpedoed
and sunk without warning by the German submarine UB-31. Most
of the crew were lost in the attack, including William Henry Phillips.
German Submarine UB-31
UB-31 was a Type UB II coastal submarine
of the Imperial German Navy, commissioned in October 1915. These
submarines were designed for operations in shallow coastal waters, where they
targeted merchant vessels supplying Britain during the war. UB-31 measured
approximately 36 metres in length, displaced 270 tonnes when
surfaced, and carried two torpedo tubes along with a deck gun.
Operating mainly in the English Channel and southern
North Sea, UB-31 was responsible for sinking multiple merchant ships,
including the S.S. Sonnie on 11th August 1917. The
submarine continued its patrols until November 1917, when it struck a
mine off Dover and sank with all hands. Its loss marked the end of a
vessel that had inflicted significant damage on Allied coastal shipping.
Commemoration
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| S.S. Sonnie Tower Hill Memorial, London credit - Benjidog Historical Research Resources: The Merchant Navy Memorial |
Legacy
The legacy of William Henry Phillips reflects the
dedication and bravery of the engineers of the Mercantile Marine, whose
technical skill kept Britain’s wartime shipping moving under constant threat.
As First Engineer, William held one of the most vital roles aboard ship,
working in confined, high-risk environments deep below deck. His loss aboard
the Sonnie highlights the vulnerability of merchant sailors who operated
unarmed or lightly armed vessels in waters infested with submarines and mines.
His life and service form part of Swansea’s wider maritime heritage, and his
sacrifice—along with that of his fellow crew—ensures that the essential
contribution of the Merchant Navy during the First World War will always be
remembered.
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