Owen Richard Hughes, HMT Semantha

Owen Richard Hughes, Able Seaman, HMT (SS) Semantha. Lost at sea aged 18 on 14 October 1917.

HMT (SS) Semantha, a Defensibly Armed Steamship (2,847 tons), built in 1899 by S P Austin & Son Ltd., Sunderland and operated by Charles A Batho, Liverpool (London). She was torpedoed and sunk by the Submarine UC 74 in a position 10 miles NW by N of Cape St John, Crete, in the Mediterranean. There were 32 casualties.Son of Hugh and Elizabeth Hughes of 1 Porth-Y-Felin, Holyhead. They had married in about 1891. In 1911 the family lived at 1 Porth-y-Felin and comprised - Hugh Hughes (46), employed as a Stoker for the LNWR, Elizabeth Hughes (40), Dorothy E Hughes (16), Hugh Hughes (15), employed as a PO Messenger, John Hughes (13), Owen Richard Hughes (11), Annie Hughes (9), Charles Hughes (8), William Ll. Hughes (7), Grace A Hughes (6), Gladys Hughes (3) and Blodwen E Hughes (1). in 1911 his parents had been married for 20 years and had 10 children, all surviving. His photograph appears to show him as a Cadet of the Elder Dempster Line.

Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.