SS Fiscus
deepseamcgee
People in story:
The Lewis brothers - Cardiff
Location of story: North Atlantic
Background to story: Merchant Navy
Aricle ID: A2477018
Contributed on: 30 March 2004
Late 1940, two Welsh Brothers Kenneth James Lewis and Raymond Leslie Lewis
walked aboard their first ship, the Cardiff registered cargo ship SS Fiscus,
4,815grt, (W.H. Seager Co. Tempus Shipping Ltd). Within a few weeks both would
be dead after the ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-99 on the 18th October 1940
in the North Atlantic with the loss of all hands while sailing to the Clyde from
Sydney, Cape Breton in Convoy SC-7.
A tragedy in itself made worse by the fact they should never have been onboard
to begin with. Kenneth Lewis was only 14 years old, His Brother Raymond 15. The
two boys are believed to of forged a letter from their Father stating he had
given permission for them to join the ship.
Kenneth and Raymond Lewis are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London
on Panel 49. Two of the youngest serving Merchant Seamen killed in WWII.
My own commemoration including photo's of the two Brothers sent to me by their
relatives can be found on this link to my own website.
http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/TOWER.htmAbout links
The CWGC has the names of 513 Merchant Seamen aged 14 to 16 who died between
1939-1945. The youngest known Second World War service death being that of
Raymond Victor Steed, age 14, Galley Boy from the S.S. Empire Morn killed 26th
April 1943 after his ship hit a mine. Buried Ben M' Sik European Cemetery,
Morocco, Plot 59A. Row 1. Grave 1.
Sons of Evan Thomas Lewis and Ethel Helena Lewis, of Cardiff.
Further information
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them."
South Wales Echo - Viewpoints November. 2006