Benjamin James Smith

A Seaman with S.S. Tyrhaug, Benjamin died on 22nd of March 1918 at the age of 26. 

Benjamin was born at Lowestoft on 11 February 1892, a son of William Henry and Rebecca Smith. He was baptised at Saint John's Church, Lowestoft, on 8 July 1892, and his family lived at 12 Stevens Street. In 1901 their address was 6 Laundry Lane. 

Benjamin attended Hervey Street Infants School and, from 1 February 1901, was a pupil at Saint John's School, Lowestoft.  By 1907 his family were living at 27 Crown Street, Lowestoft, and later they lived at 63 Tonning Street, Lowestoft. 

Benjamin married Elizabeth Hannah Blake in late 1911. 

Benjamin and Elizabeth were living at Park Hill Cottages, Oulton, Lowestoft, when he joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 14 October 1914. On 23 November 1914 he joined the Armed Merchant Cruiser Otway. 

On 22 July 1917 the Otway was patrolling off Rockall and, at 10.10 p.m., was eight miles of the Butt of Lewis. At 10.13 p.m. a periscope was sighted and the ship ordered to turn, as it did so a torpedo struck the port propeller and the ship began to flood. Ten men were killed by this initial explosion. Meanwhile the ship's gun crews began firing at the periscope. It was soon established that the ship was going to sink, so it made for the Island of North Rona. At 11 p.m., with the flooding getting worse, the ship was stopped and the order to abandon given. All of the crew, and the wounded, save for Commodore Colomb and two others took to the lifeboats. Later, once the confidential papers had been thrown overboard, a lifeboat went back to get Commodore Colomb and the other two crew. All of the lifeboats stayed together and at 6.15 a.m. the next day they were located by a whaler ten miles west of Sulisker. 51 officer and 315 crew, including Benjamin, were rescued. Benjamin's service record notes that he was slightly wounded on 22 July 1917. 

For further details see: HMS OTWAY - LOSTINWATERSDEEP.CO.UK  

On 1 October 1917 Benjamin joined S. S. Tyrhaug. On 21 March 1918 the Tyrhaug was sailing from Belfast to Falmouth carrying general cargo. Ten miles north-east of the Pendeen lighthouse the ship was sunk by a torpedo from U-103. Benjamin was one of two men killed in the sinking.   

Benjamin's brother William was killed in action in 1915 whilst serving with the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. 

Benjamin is named on Saint Margaret's War Memorial.

Benjamin's brother-in-law, Arthur Blake, served with the Royal Sussex Regiment and died in 1918.