George Lewis – Merchant Navy, S.S. Empire Amethyst

Able Seaman George Lewis – Merchant Navy, S.S. Empire Amethyst

Early Life and Family Background

George Lewis was born in 1902 in Swansea, the son of Nathan Lewis and Kayia Lewis. In later life he married Edith Mary Lewis, and the couple made their home in the Brynmill district of Swansea. Although few details survive regarding his early years, the surviving records place George firmly within the long maritime tradition of the town.

Merchant Navy Service

George served with the Merchant Navy, holding the rank of Able Seaman, a skilled deck rating responsible for steering, lookout duties, and the general seamanship essential to the safe running of a vessel. His service placed him among the many Swansea men who went to sea during the Second World War, often sailing unescorted through waters heavily patrolled by German U‑boats.

The S.S. Empire Amethyst

The S.S. Empire Amethyst was a British steam tanker of 8,023 tons, built in 1941 to support Britain’s wartime fuel supply. On 23 January 1942, during an earlier voyage, she rescued five survivors from the Norwegian vessel Innerøy, which had been sunk by U‑553, and safely landed them at Halifax. This act of rescue highlights the dual role of merchant ships during the war: delivering vital cargoes while also responding to the tragedies unfolding across the Atlantic.

George Lewis
Tower Hill Memorial
credit - Benjidog Histroical Research Resources.
The Merchant Navy Memorial

The Final Voyage and Loss of the Ship

On 13 April 1942, the Empire Amethyst was sailing independently from New Orleans to Freetown, carrying 12,000 tons of clean oil, a highly flammable and strategically essential cargo. During this passage she was torpedoed by the German submarine U‑154. The attack was catastrophic. The tanker was destroyed with the loss of all on board: the master, 40 crew members, and six gunners. Among those who perished was Able Seaman George Lewis, whose duties placed him at the heart of the ship’s operations during the attack.

Commemoration

With no known grave but the sea, Able Seaman George Lewis is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, where his name stands among those of thousands of Merchant Navy personnel who gave their lives during the Second World War. His story forms part of Swansea’s wider maritime heritage and reflects the sacrifice made by families across the city whose sons served at sea in Britain’s hour of need.