Owen Wynne Williams, HMS Vanguard
Officer’s Steward 2nd Class, L/8088, RN, HMS Vanguard. Died, aged 22, on 9 July 1917 as a result of an internal explosion whilst the ship was anchored at the Fleet Base of Scapa Flow
HMS Vanguard was a 19,560 ton St. Vincent Class Battleship built in 1910 and a survivor of the Battle of Jutland.A total of 843 died, leaving only 2 survivors. The loss of HMS Vanguard is believed to have been caused by an explosion in one of the two ammunition magazines which served the amidships turrets. It has been suggested that cordite stored against a bulkhead may have become overheated from a smouldering fire in an adjoining coal bunker or other area. Eyewitness accounts of the incident described seeing a bright flash or flame, followed by two heavy explosions and then a third, smaller one. A 12-inch gun turret weighing many tons was hurled across the fleet at anchor to land a mile away, setting fire to the moorland.
Born on 18 March 1895 at Holyhead. A Chatham recruit, he was the son (adopted?) of Mrs. Kate Jones (nee Williams) of 4 Arthur Street, Kingsland, Holyhead (In De Ruvignys's Roll of Honour 1914-1924 he is recorded as the son of Maggie Ellen Williams). He was brought up by his Grandfather and Grandmother, Owen and Margaret Williams of 4 Greenfield Terrace, Holyhead. He had previously worked as a Ship's Steward for the LNWR Company on SS Rathmore. Prior to that he had been employed at Holyhead Library and also Holyhead Post Office. He had joined the RNVR on 16 December 1915 before transferring to the Royal Navy. Joined HMS Vanguard on 29 September 1916.
In the 1911 Census he is recorded as a Steward on board the LNWR ship SS Rathmore at Holyhead Harbour. At the same time his widowed Grandfather, Owen Williams (68) was employed as a Labourer by Holyhead Urban District Council. He was born at Llanerchymedd, Anglesey and living at 4 Greenfield Terrace, Holyhead with his son William Williams (47), a Carriage Cleaner, born at Caernarvon and daughter, Maggie Ellen Williams (39), born at Holyhead. Both are recorded as unmarried.
Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal. His Memorial Plaque can be viewed at the Holyhead Maritime Museum.
Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial and also on the LNWR Roll of Honour.
Image of HMS Vanguard from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HMS_Vanguard_%281909%29.png. Image of Owen Wynne Williams from http://newspapers.library.wales/.
Research on others lost on the Vanguard can be found at the Facebook Group Page 'HMS Vanguard 9th July 1917 Lost Crew'
