Percy William Welch

A Fourth Hand with Trawler Boy Sam (Lowestoft), Percy died on 12th of May 1916 at the age of 16. 

Percy was born at Lowestoft in 1900, a son of Lily Florence Alger. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 30 June 1900, and his mother lived at 81 Oxford Road, Lowestoft. In 1901 he lived with his mother, and grandparents, at 81 Oxford Road. During 1901 Percy’s mother married Samuel William Welch and thereafter Percy was known as Percy Welch. In 1911 his family lived at 39 Thurston Road, Lowestoft.  

Percy was the Fourth Hand on the sailing trawler Boy Sam, LT 1014. The trawler sailed from Lowestoft on 12 May 1916, intending to fish at Haisborough Sands. The trawler was due back at Lowestoft on 19 May 1916, but did not return. 

One website suggests that the Boy Sam was with the trawler Boy Percy and that both of them were scuttled by the German submarine UB-29 and that all of the crews took to lifeboats and were then lost at sea. However, the loss of the Boy Percy took place off Southwold. This is not consonant with the Boy Sam heading for Haisborough Sands.