William Jones, SS Vine Branch

SS Vine Branch (Sunderland) was a defensively armed steamship of 3,442 tons, originally built in 1898 by William Doxford & Sons, Sunderland (yard number 242). It was launched as SS Imperialist for Angier Brothers, London and completed for Cayzer Irvine & Co, Glasgow. In 1898 it was renamed SS Clan Shaw by owners and then sold to Nautilus Steam Shipping Co. Ltd., Sunderland who renamed it SS Vine Branch.On route back to LIverpool from Valparaiso, Chile (via Dakar, Africa) with a cargo of nitrates and frozen beef, the ship was attacked by the German submarine U55 on 6 April 1917 in a position approximately 400 miles to the south west of Ireland. The only account available is from the submarine, which states that they fired two torpedoes at the Vine Branch and missed. The Vine Branch then attempted to ram them, possibly damaging the periscope. The submarine then surfaced and engaged the Vine Branch with gunfire, and presumably more torpedoes. All 44 crew aboard Vine Branch were killed, probably from an explosion of the powdered nitrate cargo.Only on 4 July 1917 was the vessel posted missing by Lloyds. The CWGC records the sinking on 11 April 1917.

Born at Holyhead he was the son of Hugh L. and Mary Jones, of 24 Holborn Road, Holyhead. In 1901 he was living with his parents and three siblings at 18 Millbank Terrace, Holyhead. In 1911 the family lived at 16 Millbank Terrace. His father was a Seaman Quartermaster.

Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London