John Tansley Williams

A Second Hand with Steam Trawler Lord Haldane (Lowestoft), John died on 7th of November 1940 at the age of 58. 

John was born at Lowestoft on 27 August 1882, a son of Charles and Charlotte Williams. In 1891 his family lived at 227 Raglan Street. By 1911 John was a herring fisherman living with his aunt, Eliza Harris, at 26 Whapload Road. 

On 30 September 1911 John married Hilda May Williams at Saint Andrew’s Church, Plaistow, Essex. In 1915 they lived at Shakespeare Avenue, Milford Haven. 

John joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 23 September 1915. He served as an Engineman, service number ES 4073. John served with the trawler Norfolk County. On 17 January 1918 John joined the drifter Smilax. On 5 May 1918 the Smilax attacked, and sank, an enemy submarine. John received a Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette 14 March 1919, and £64-10-04, being his share in an Admiralty bounty of £500 for his part in the engagement. John also received the Romanian Distinguished Conduct Medal 5th Class for ‘distinguished services rendered during the war’, London Gazette 14 March 1919. He was demobilised on 3 March 1919.

In 1920 John was awarded his certificate of competency as a second hand.     

John and Hilda lived at 14 Cambridge Road, Lowestoft, in 1921. John was an out of work trawl fisherman who usually worked for Lowestoft Fish Selling Company. In 1939 their home was at 2 Oulton Road and later at 28 Saint Margaret’s Road.

In 1940 John was the Second Hand on the trawler Lord Haldane. On 4 November 1940 the Lord Haldane left Milford Haven for the fishing grounds and was last seen on 7 November 1940. Official records state that John was missing, supposed drowned, on 7 November, but other sources suggest that the Lord Haldane was lost on 12 November. The trawler had ten crew, all of whom were lost.   

John's son-in-law, George Reeve, served with the Royal Engineers and died in 1944.