Herbert George Williams and others

 


The S.S. Empire Amethyst, was an 8-ton tanker, was built during 1941 by the Furness Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Stockton-on-Tess, launched July 1941, and completed by that December.  Empire Amethyst was built for the Ministry of War Transport, and her homeport was Middlesbrough.  Sadly, there are no photographs of Empire Amethyst, however, there is a ships design plans. 

During the Second World War, Empire Amethyst was part of several convoys.

Convoy ON-17 was launched 17th September 1941, departing from Liverpool and 19th from Loch Ewe.  By the 29th the convoy was dispersed.  Convoy consisted of 44 merchant ships with an additional 18 escorts.

S.S. Inneroy
Empire Amethyst saw action during 23rd January 1942, when survivors from the Norwegian S.S. Inneroy, was torpedoed and sunk by U-553, the survivors were taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

That February, Empire Amethyst was part of the Convoy HX-173.  The convoy left Halifax on the 1sst and arrived on the 14th at Liverpool.  The convoy consisted of 34 merchant ships with an escort of 16 ships.  Empire Amethyst was carrying a cargo of petrol.

March 1942, Empire Amethyst, took part in Convoy OS-21 depart from Liverpool on the 4th and arriving at Freetown on the 24th.  During the voyage the Empire Amethyst was in ballast having discharged her cargo at Milford Haven.  Empire Amethyst commenced from Swansea, with a crew of 47, stopped off at Belfast, to discharge a crewmember and a replacement to come on board, the Empire Amethyst sailed on to New Orleans.

Whilst at New Orleans, the Empire Amethyst took on a cargo of 12,000 tons of motor spirt her voyage was intended to go Freetown, Empire Amethyst route was via Lesser Antilles, then a dash across the Atlantic to Freetown.

HMCS Prince Henry
12th April, U-154 spotted Empire Amethyst, the captain, Walther Kolle, believed that she was being escorted by HMCS Prince Henry and didn’t attack.

That morning, Empire Amethyst received a distress call from the American SS Delvalla having been attacked and torpedoed by U-154 and sinking.  Prince Henry, headed to the distressed ship, and helped in rescuing survivors.

Location of the wreck of Empire Amethyst,
Caribbean Sea



Later that morning, U-154 spotted Empire Amethyst who was still under the escorted of Prince Henry, by 4 that afternoon, the escort was lost.  Having been short of torpedoes, Walter Kolle, decided to attack from the surface.  The chase began at 8 that evening, and Empire Amethyst made her way to Trinidad.  Just after midnight, Empire Amethyst would lose her pursuers.  The following morning, U-154, finally found Empire Amethyst, and fired two torpedoes, hitting under the bridge.  Empire Amethyst exploded and was a mass of flames. 

All 47 crew members were killed.  Their names are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial.

One of those crew members was 17-year-old, Sailor Herbert George Williams, who came from Swansea.


Bethel Cemetery, Sketty
Herbert is commemorated on his parent’s grave at Bethel Cemetery, Sketty.  His parents were the Swiss born Helene Alice Richer and Herbert John Williams.  At the time of his death, the Williams were living at Townhill Road, and that is the address they have given for the 1939 Register.


Record of Death of Merchant Seaman
Sadly, there are no official records, for Herbert, the 1931 Census, was destroyed by fire, December 1942. However, there is the Record of Death of Merchant Seaman, which records the death being the 14th. 






Tower Hill Memorial, 
London
Other crew members from Swansea include, Philip Towell, 27, Fireman; William Samuel Kieft, 34, Fireman; Samuel Hall, 31, Able Seaman; George Lewis, 40, Able Seaman; Leslie Charles Evans, 17, Ordinary Seaman and Frederick John Haywood, 31, Fireman.

 

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