William Hugh Cameron – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Hollington

 Chief Engineer William Hugh Cameron – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Hollington

Early Life and Family Background

William Hugh Cameron was born in 1872, in Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland, the eldest son of Elizabeth Cameron.

The 1881 Scottish Census records the family living at 4 Winchester Row, Roxburghshire. Elizabeth, aged 33, is listed as an Annuitant, and her children are William Hugh (9), Alexander G. (7), and John G. (6) — all attending school. Also present were Catherine Brewes (27), a Clerk, and two lodgers — Walter Gardner (18), also a Clerk, and George Houliston (25), a Hostler.

By the 1891 Census, the Camerons were residing at 7 Abbotsford Grove, Roxburghshire. Elizabeth, aged 44, continued to receive an annuity, while her sons were beginning their working lives. William (19) was employed as an Engine Fitter, Alexander (17) as a General Shopman (Apprentice), and John (16) as an Ironmonger’s Apprentice.

Marriage and Family

1911 Census

In 1903, William Cameron married Jessie Walters. By the time of the 1911 Census, William was away at sea, while his wife Jessie, aged 34, was living at 2 Bloomfield Terrace, Swansea, with their three children — Bessie (6), Mary Brenda (4), and Dorothy (1). Also living with them was Margaret Clarke (19), employed as a servant.

Career and Service

Beginning his career as an engine fitter, William rose through the ranks of the Mercantile Marine, earning recognition for his technical expertise and dedication. By the outbreak of the First World War, he had attained the rank of Chief Engineer, serving aboard the S.S. Hollington.

The position of Chief Engineer demanded skill, leadership, and resilience, particularly during wartime, when the risk of attack by submarines or mines was constant. Engineers like Cameron were vital to keeping Britain’s merchant fleet operational under extraordinary pressure.

Loss of the S.S. Hollington

The S.S. Hollington was a British merchant steamship engaged in transporting coal and other cargo essential to the war effort. On 2 June 1917, the vessel was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine while on voyage in the North Atlantic.

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 confirm that the Hollington was lost with all hands. Among those who perished was Chief Engineer William Hugh Cameron, whose dedication and professionalism had marked a lifelong career at sea.

Commemoration

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

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

Chief Engineer W.H. Cameron 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

William Hugh Cameron exemplified the quiet courage and skill of the Mercantile Marine. From his beginnings as a young engine fitter in Kelso to his service as Chief Engineer aboard a wartime vessel, his life reflected dedication to both profession and country.

His death aboard the S.S. Hollington on 2 June 1917 serves as a poignant reminder of the countless merchant seamen who faced the perils of the sea with steadfast bravery. His name endures as part of Swansea’s proud maritime heritage and Britain’s collective remembrance of sacrifice at sea