Richard Henry Huzzey – Merchant Navy, S.S. Empire Conveyor

Cook Richard Henry Huzzey – Merchant Navy, S.S. Empire Conveyor

Early Life and Family Background

1911 Census

Richard Henry Huzzey was born in 1906 in Swansea, the son of Richard Henry Huzzey and Eliza Jane Jones, who had married in 1903 in Swansea. By the time of the 1911 Census, the Huzzey family were living at 99 Norfolk Street, Swansea. Richard’s father, born in Pembrokeshire and aged 54, was employed as a Grocer’s Warehouseman, while his mother, Eliza Jane, was 35. Their children at that time were Muriel Mary, aged 7; Richard Henry, aged 5; Florence Amy, aged 4; and Clara Emily, aged three months. Also living with the family was Louisa Huzzey, aged 67, Richard’s paternal aunt.

The Huzzey Family in 1921

1921 Census

At the time of the 1921 Census, the family were still residing at 99 Norfolk Street. Richard’s father, now aged 64, continued to work as a warehouseman, and Eliza Jane, aged 45, remained at home. Their eldest daughter, Muriel, aged 17, was employed as a Domestic Servant, while Richard Harry, aged 16, worked as an Errand Boy in a bakehouse operated by W. Froom, Baker, of 79 Terrace Road, Mount Pleasant. The younger children, Clara Emily, aged 11, and William Alfred, aged 8, were both attending school.

Marriage and Adult Life

In 1935, Richard Henry Huzzey married Florence M. Davies in Swansea, establishing his own household while remaining rooted in the community in which he had grown up. His later address, 217 Danygraig Road, St Thomas, reflects his continued connection to the east side of the city.

Service in the Merchant Navy

During the Second World War, Richard Henry Huzzey served with the Merchant Navy, holding the rank of Cook aboard the S.S. Empire Conveyor. As with so many Merchant Navy personnel, his role was essential to the daily functioning of the ship and the welfare of its crew, even as the dangers of wartime service increased dramatically.

History and Loss of the S.S. Empire Conveyor

The Empire Conveyor had a long and varied career before her wartime service. Built in 1917 as the Farnworth for the Dalgliesh Steam Shipping Co., Newcastle, she measured 5,896 tons and 400 ft by 51.6 ft. In 1924, she was renamed Illinois after being purchased by the Harlem Steamship Co., Newcastle. In 1926, she passed to Cie Générale Transatlantique of Le Havre, and in 1934, she became the Mount Pentelikon under the ownership of Kulukundis Bros., Piraeus. In 1939, she was renamed Gloria when acquired by Orion Schiffahrts GmbH of Rostock. Her fate changed dramatically on 21 October 1939, when she was captured by HMS Sheffield off Iceland. Taken as a prize, she entered British service in 1940 as the Empire Conveyor, operated by the Ministry of Shipping and managed by H. Hogarth & Sons.

Her service under the British flag was short‑lived. On 20 June 1940, she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U‑122 at position 56°16’N, 08°10’W in the North Atlantic. The attack was sudden and devastating, leaving little chance for survival.

Death and Commemoration

Merchant Seamen Deaths

Richard Henry Huzzey
Tower Hill Memorial
credit - Benjidog Histroical Research Resources.
The Merchant Navy Memorial

According to the Merchant Seamen Deaths records, Richard Henry Huzzey, of 217 Danygraig Road, St Thomas, lost his life on 20 June 1940 during the sinking of the Empire Conveyor. With no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London, which honours the thousands of Merchant Navy men who died at sea during both world wars. His inclusion ensures that his service and sacrifice are remembered.