William James Hill – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. Laurentic

 Seaman William James Hill – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. Laurentic

Early Life and Marriage

William James Hill was born in 1875 in London, the son of George and H. Hill. Little is recorded of his early years, but like many men of his generation, his adult life eventually brought him to Swansea—then a busy and expanding industrial port city. 

William James Hill and Harriet Long
marriage certificate
St. Mark's Church, Swansea

In 1907, he married Harriet Long, a widow, at St. Mark’s Church, Swansea, beginning a new chapter in a blended family during a time of rapid social and economic change.

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, William and Harriet were living at 47 Seyborfach Street, Swansea, in a household typical of working‑class families of the period. William James, then aged 36, was employed as a tailor, a skilled trade requiring precision and patience—qualities that would later serve him well in naval service. Harriet, aged 28, managed the home and the children, which included her daughters Voyle (14) and Georgeine (9), along with Dorris (6). The couple also had a new baby, William George Henry, just five months old. Also residing with them was Joseph Christelow, aged 23, William’s brother‑in‑law, adding further support and companionship to the busy household.

Life for the family would have been modest but stable, with William’s trade providing a dependable income and the close-knit family structure offering security during a time when hardship and illness were common. Like many men living near Britain’s ports, William would soon find his skills and strength called upon by the Royal Navy as war spread across Europe.

Service in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

H.M.S. Laurentic

William James enlisted with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (R.N.V.R.), a branch composed largely of civilian sailors and tradesmen who volunteered for wartime duty. He served as a Seaman aboard H.M.S. Laurentic, a ship with a history as dramatic as any in early 20th‑century maritime lore.

Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen

Built in 1909 by the White Star Line, the same company that later produced the Titanic, the Laurentic was originally a luxury passenger liner designed for comfort and speed. She quickly gained notoriety in 1910 when she transported the fugitive murderer Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen and his companion Ethel Le Neve across the Atlantic. The ship’s wireless operator famously transmitted messages that exposed their presence on board, leading to Crippen’s arrest—the first successful use of wireless telegraphy to track down and capture a criminal. This event made Laurentic internationally famous and marked a turning point in modern maritime communication.

Laurentic During the First World War

With the outbreak of the First World War, Britain’s urgent wartime needs led to the requisitioning of many civilian vessels, and Laurentic was swiftly absorbed into the Royal Navy. Her large cargo holds, strong engines, and robust hull made her ideal for conversion into an armed merchant cruiser.

In January 1917, Laurentic was entrusted with a highly secret mission: transporting a massive consignment of gold bullion, intended to secure Britain’s overseas wartime credit and strengthen its financial standing with international partners. This gold—stowed deep in her reinforced holds—was critical to sustaining the British war effort at a time when resources were stretched to breaking point.

The Sinking of H.M.S. Laurentic

On 25^th January 1917, H.M.S. Laurentic sailed northward along the coast of Ireland, entering the frigid waters near Lough Swilly—a region heavily mined by German U‑boats. The submarine U‑80 had recently laid several naval mines in the area, and at approximately 5 p.m., Laurentic struck two of these mines in quick succession.

The explosions were devastating. Despite the crew’s frantic efforts, freezing temperatures, rapidly flooding compartments, and failing power made survival nearly impossible. The ship sank quickly, leaving the men onboard to face bitter January seas. More than 350 officers and men lost their lives—one of the worst naval disasters in home waters during the war.

The gold cargo would later become the subject of one of history’s most extensive salvage operations, lasting years. But for the families of those lost, including the Hill family of Swansea, the tragedy left a permanent void.

Commemoration

William James Hill
Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth
credit - findagrave

Among those who perished was Seaman William James Hill, whose service, like that of so many volunteer sailors, reflected courage, duty, and sacrifice. His name is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, which honours those with no known grave but the sea. His legacy remains as part of both Swansea’s wartime heritage and the wider story of the Royal Navy’s sacrifices during the First World War