William John Haynes – Royal Navy, H.M.S. Invincible

 Able Seaman William John Haynes – Royal Navy, H.M.S. Invincible

Early Life

John Hayes and Mary Ann Davies
marriage certificate
St. Mary’s Church, Swansea

William John Haynes was born in 1881 in Swansea, the son of John Hayes and Mary Ann Davies, who married in 1869 at St. Mary’s Church, Swansea.

1891 Census

The 1891 Census records the Haynes family living at 32 Bond Street, Swansea, where John, aged 56, an Irish‑born mariner, resided with his wife Mary Ann, aged 54. Their children at home were Eliza M., 18, a dressmaker; William John, 10; and Louisa, 8.

Royal Navy Service

1901 Census

H.M.S. Trafalgar

By the 1901 Census, 19‑year‑old William John had enlisted in the Royal Navy. He was serving as an Able Seaman on board H.M.S. Trafalgar, a Trafalgar‑class battleship launched in 1887. This vessel was among the last pre‑dreadnought battleships built before the Royal Navy moved to more modern designs. Heavily armoured and intended for line‑of‑battle engagements, Trafalgar served mainly with the Home Fleet and in training roles during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Her presence at Weymouth, Dorset, during the 1901 census reflects her use in home‑based instructional squadrons. The ship remained in service until she was sold in 1911.

William John continued his naval career and retained the rank of Able Seaman until his death.

H.M.S. Invincible at the Battle of Jutland

H.M.S. Invincible

At the time of his death, William John was serving on H.M.S. Invincible, the lead ship of the Invincible‑class battlecruisers, the first of their type in the world. During the Battle of Jutland on 31^st May 1916, Invincible served as the flagship of the 3^rd Battlecruiser Squadron, under Rear‑Admiral Horace Hood. The ship played a major role in the early and middle phases of the battle, engaging German battlecruisers including SMS Lützow and SMS Derfflinger.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., Invincible was struck by a salvo from German heavy guns. One shell penetrated the Q‑turret magazine, causing a catastrophic internal explosion. The ship broke in two and sank within seconds. Of the 1,021 men on board, only six survived. The destruction of Invincible became one of the most tragic and defining moments of the battle, highlighting the vulnerability of early battlecruisers whose high speed came at the cost of lighter armour.

Able Seaman William John Haynes was among those who lost their lives in the explosion.

Commemoration

William John Haynes 
Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Portsmouth
credit - findagrave

William John Haynes is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Portsmouth,  which honours those who have no known grave but the sea