Benjamin Arthur Crowford

A Second Engineer, Benjamin died on 21st May 1947, at the age of 59. 

Benjamin was born at Kirkley, Lowestoft, on 30th May 1887, a son of John and Hannah Eliza Crowford. He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley, on 25th July 1887. In 1901 his family lived at 4 Mill Road, Horn Hill, Lowestoft.

Benjamin, like his father, became a fisherman.

On 19th May 1913 Benjamin married Catherine Ann Large at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley.

Benjamin joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 8th April 1915 with service number 2774 T.S. and he was a Trimmer. During the First World War he served on the requisitioned trawlers Twelve, Vina, and Earl Kitchener. His service took him to the Mediterranean. He was discharged on 5th June 1919. His brother Alfred died in the loss of the Drifter Reliance in October 1917.

By 1939 Benjamin and Catherine were living at 35 Horn Hill, Lowestoft. 

In 1947 Benjamin was the Second Engineer on the Trawler Bucentaur. On 21st May 1947 the Bucentaur was involved with a collision with the American merchant/troopship Wilson Victory, sailing from Bremerhaven (for details see Wood v. United States, 125 F. Supp. 42 (S.D.N.Y. 1954) :: Justia ).

The Bucentaur was lost with all hands.