William Samuel Kieft – Merchant Navy, S.S. Empire Amethyst

Ordinary Seaman William Samuel Kieft – Merchant Navy, S.S. Empire Amethyst

Early Life and Family Background

William Samuel Kieft was born in 1908 in Swansea, the eldest child of William George Kieft and Hannah Maria Parton, who had married in 1907, also in Swansea.

1911 Census

The 1911 Census records the young family as boarders at 11 Globe Street, Morriston, where William George, aged 24, was employed as a Labourer at the Steel Works, and Hannah, aged 22, was caring for their three children: William S., aged 3; Mary E., aged 2; and David J., just one day old at the time of the census.

1921 Census

By the 1921 Census, the family had moved to 379 Neath Road, Plasmarl, Swansea, the address later associated with William’s wartime service. William George, now 35, was working as a Watchman, while Hannah Maria, aged 33, was at home with their growing family. Their children were William J., 13; Mary Ellen, 12; David John, 10; Sarah Ann, 7; and Mabel Elizabeth, 5, all of whom were attending school. Two younger children, Iris, aged 2, and Thomas George, aged 4 months, completed the household.

Merchant Navy Service

Merchant Seamen Deaths

William later served with the Merchant Navy, holding the rank of Ordinary Seaman, one of the essential deck ratings whose duties supported the daily running and safety of the ship. According to the Merchant Seamen Deaths records, William of 379 Neath Road lost his life during the Second World War while serving aboard the S.S. Empire Amethyst.

The S.S. Empire Amethyst

William Samuel Kieft 
Tower Hill Memorial
credit - Benjidog Histroical Research Resources.
The Merchant Navy Memorial

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.

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 vital cargo. East of the Caribbean, 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 Ordinary Seaman William Samuel Kieft, whose duties placed him at the heart of the ship’s operations during the attack.

Commemoration

With no known grave but the sea, Ordinary Seaman William Samuel Kieft 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 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.