Sidney G. Cawood – Merchant Navy, S.S. Baltallinn

Fireman & Trimmer Sidney G. Cawood – Merchant Navy, S.S. Baltallinn

Early Life

Sidney G. Cawood was born in 1912 in Swansea, the son of James Cawood and Alice Selina Cawood. Little is known about his early years, and he does not appear in the 1921 Census, leaving a gap in the surviving records of his childhood and upbringing.

Service in the Merchant Navy

Sidney later entered service with the Merchant Navy, taking on the demanding role of Fireman and Trimmer. This position placed him deep within the ship’s engine room, responsible for maintaining the boilers and ensuring a steady supply of fuel—work that was physically exhausting and essential to keeping the vessel operational.

He served aboard the S.S. Baltallinn, a British‑registered cargo steamer built in 1919. During the Second World War, the ship operated in dangerous waters, carrying essential supplies at a time when German U‑boats were actively targeting Allied merchant shipping.

The Final Voyage and Sinking of the S.S. Baltallinn – 21^st September 1941

S.S. Baltallinn
credit - wrecksite

In September 1941, the S.S. Baltallinn was sailing from Preston and Oban bound for Gibraltar, carrying a cargo of 442 tons of Government Stores. These supply runs were vital to the Allied war effort, but they placed merchant ships directly in the path of German U‑boats patrolling the North Atlantic.

On 21^st September 1941, the Baltallinn was torpedoed by the German submarine U‑124. The attack caused catastrophic damage, and the ship sank rapidly. Of the 30 crew members on board, 18 were lost, including Fireman and Trimmer Sidney Cawood. The suddenness of the attack left little opportunity for escape, reflecting the extreme dangers faced by merchant seafarers during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Death and Commemoration

Merchant Seamen Deaths

Sidney G. Cawood
Tower Hill Memorial, London
credit - findagrave

According to the Merchant Seamen Deaths register, Sidney Cawood, of Norton, lost his life on 21^st September 1941 in the sinking of the S.S. Baltallinn. As he has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, which honours the thousands of Merchant Navy personnel who died at sea during both world wars