William Robert Evans – Merchant Navy, S.S. Nova Scotia

Sailor William Robert Evans – Merchant Navy, S.S. Nova Scotia

Early Life

William Robert Evans was born in 1921 in Swansea. Little is recorded about his early years, but like many young men of his generation, he grew up during a period marked by economic hardship and global tension. By the time he reached adulthood, the Second World War was underway, and he entered service with the Merchant Navy, joining the civilian seafarers whose work was vital to Britain’s survival.

Service in the Merchant Navy

S.S. Nova Scotia 
credit - wrecksite

William served as a Sailor aboard the S.S. Nova Scotia, a British passenger and cargo liner operated by the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company. Before the war, the vessel had carried passengers, mail, and commercial goods between Britain and South Africa. Once requisitioned for wartime service, she transported troops, prisoners of war, and essential supplies across long and dangerous sea routes. At the time of his final voyage, William’s recorded address was 13 Kent Road, Liverpool, reflecting the city’s importance as a major wartime port and a hub of Merchant Navy activity.

Loss of the S.S. Nova Scotia – 28^th November 1942

The S.S. Nova Scotia was built in 1926 and had served for many years on the South African route before being drawn into the demands of wartime transport. By late 1942, the waters off the east coast of Africa had become increasingly hazardous. German U‑boats, operating far from their usual North Atlantic hunting grounds, were extending their reach into the Indian Ocean and the southern hemisphere, targeting Allied shipping routes linking South Africa, the Middle East, and India.

On 28^th November 1942, the Nova Scotia was sailing off the coast of Natal Province, South Africa, carrying a mixed complement of Italian prisoners of war, South African military guards, and British and South African crew members. In total, more than 750 people were on board. The German submarine U‑177, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Robert Gysae, sighted the vessel and prepared to attack. Believing the ship to be carrying troops, Gysae fired a spread of torpedoes.

The torpedoes struck with devastating force. The explosion tore through the ship’s hull, causing catastrophic flooding and structural collapse. The Nova Scotia began to sink rapidly, throwing hundreds of men into the sea. The aftermath was horrific. Survivors found themselves in shark‑infested waters, and many were injured, trapped, or unable to swim. Rescue efforts were severely limited: the sinking occurred in a remote area, Allied ships were far away, and wartime restrictions prevented immediate large‑scale rescue operations.

Eventually, the Portuguese vessel S.S. Alfonso de Albuquerque rescued only 192 survivors, most of them Italian prisoners. More than 750 lives were lost, making it one of the worst maritime disasters off the South African coast during the war. Among those who perished was Sailor William Robert Evans, serving with the Merchant Navy.

Death and Commemoration

 Merchant Seamen Deaths

William Robert Evans
Tower Hill Memorial
credit - Benjidog Histroical Research Resources.
The Merchant Navy Memorial

According to the Merchant Seamen Deaths register, William Robert Evans lost his life on 28^th November 1942 when the S.S. Nova Scotia was sunk. 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.