William James Watters – Mercantile Marine - S.S. City of Bremen

 Second Engineer William James Watters – Mercantile Marine, S.S. City of Bremen

Early Life and Background

William James Watters was born in 1864 in Swansea, the son of William John Watters and Margaret Ann Watters. Very few records survive relating to his early childhood or working life, but like many Swansea men of his generation, he entered maritime engineering—a skilled and physically demanding profession that supported Britain’s growing steamship trade.

William James Watters and Mary Matilda Adams
marriage certificate
Holy Trinity Church

The only surviving civilian document that firmly records William in adulthood is his marriage certificate. In February 1898, he married Mary Matilda Adams at Holy Trinity Church, Swansea. At the time of his marriage, William was living at 65 Brunswick Street and was employed as a Marine Engineer, a profession that required significant training and experience.

Service at Sea – Second Engineer, S.S. City of Bremen

By the outbreak of the First World War, William had become a Second Engineer, responsible for maintaining the machinery, boilers, and engine-room operations aboard the S.S. City of Bremen. Second Engineers played a vital role on steamships, ensuring that engines remained operational under difficult and often dangerous wartime conditions.

On 4^th April 1915, the City of Bremen was attacked and sunk by the German submarine U-24 while at sea. In the sudden assault, William James Watters was among those who lost their lives. As with many Merchant Navy casualties, no remains were recovered.

The S.S. City of Bremen

The S.S. City of Bremen was a British merchant steamship engaged in carrying cargo during the early years of the First World War. Operating in increasingly hostile waters, the ship sailed without the protection enjoyed by naval vessels, leaving her—and her crew—vulnerable to submarine attack.

By early 1915, German U-boats had expanded their campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare. Merchant vessels like the City of Bremen, often unarmed and easy targets, were frequently torpedoed without warning in an effort to disrupt Britain’s trade and supply routes. The sinking of the ship in April 1915 reflects the growing intensity and brutality of submarine warfare during this period.

German Submarine U-24

U-24 was a highly successful German submarine of the Type U 23 class, commissioned into the Imperial German Navy in 1913. She displaced approximately 685 tons surfaced and 878 tons submerged, carried four torpedo tubes, and had a crew of about 35 men.

U-24 was commanded at various times by notable U-boat officers and became one of Germany’s more effective submarines during the early war. Her operations ranged across the North Sea and the Western Approaches, where she targeted merchant vessels and passenger ships alike. The attack on the City of Bremen formed part of this broader campaign. U-24 survived much of the war before being surrendered in 1918.

Commemoration

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

With no known grave but the sea, William James Watters is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. This memorial honours members of the Mercantile Marine and Merchant Navy who lost their lives in both World Wars and whose remains were never recovered. His name stands among those of countless merchant seafarers who died while keeping Britain supplied during one of the most dangerous periods in maritime history.

Legacy

The life and service of William James Watters reflect the essential yet perilous work undertaken by marine engineers of the Mercantile Marine. Working deep below deck, responsible for the engines that powered ships through war zones, engineers faced extreme risks and often had little chance of escape when attacked. William’s sacrifice is part of Swansea’s rich maritime heritage and serves as a reminder of the courage, skill, and dedication shown by those who maintained Britain’s lifeline at sea.