William Richard Norman – Mercantile Marine - S.S. Warnow

 Ordinary Seaman William Richard Norman – Mercantile Marine, S.S. Warnow

Early Life and Background

Birth and Parentage

William Richard Norman was one of Swansea’s younger Mercantile Marine casualties of the First World War. Born in 1899 in Swansea, he was the son of William Jenkins Norman and Margaret Williams, who were married in 1898 at All Saints’ Church, Kilvey.

1901 Census

The 1901 Census provides the only recorded glimpse of William’s early childhood. The Norman family were living at 1 Prospect Row, Swansea. His father, William J. Norman, aged 28, worked as a Dock Labourer, while his mother Margaret (also recorded as Annie) was 25 years old. Their only child at that time was William, aged 2.

This small family was part of Swansea’s working-class dockside community, where many households were supported by the maritime and coal trades.

S.S. Warnow

As a young man, William went to sea and served as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the S.S. Warnow, a British merchant steamship. Ordinary Seamen formed the junior deck crew, carrying out essential physical and navigational duties under supervision, and they were often among the youngest and most vulnerable mariners during the war. On 2^nd May 1917, while operating in the English Channel off the Isle of Wight, the Warnow was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB-40 during Germany’s intensified campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare. The ship went down with heavy loss of life, and William Richard Norman, only 17 or 18 years old, was among those who perished.

UB-40

The UB-40 was a Type UB II coastal submarine, launched in 1916 and designed for operations in shallow, heavily trafficked waters such as the English Channel. Armed with torpedoes and a deck gun, these submarines were highly effective against merchant shipping.

UB-40 was responsible for sinking numerous Allied vessels, including the S.S. Warnow. Her activities contributed to the severe losses suffered by the Mercantile Marine during 1917, one of the deadliest years of the war for merchant shipping. The submarine was later lost with all hands in February 1918, after striking a mine.

Legacy

Although only limited records remain, William’s life reflects the experiences of many young men who joined the Mercantile Marine during the First World War. Barely into adulthood, he undertook demanding duties at a time when merchant ships operated under constant threat from submarines and mines. His death at such a young age highlights the vulnerability of junior sailors serving aboard unarmed or lightly armed vessels.

William’s story also represents the contribution of Swansea’s maritime families, whose sons supported Britain’s vital wartime shipping effort despite the extreme dangers they faced.

Commemoration

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

As William Richard Norman has no known grave but the sea, his name is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London, alongside thousands of merchant sailors who died during the World Wars without a known resting place. His sacrifice ensures that the contribution of Swansea’s youngest seafarers is not forgotten