Memorial to the oldest and youngest seamen
killed in World War II

During WW II, there was a tremendous shortage of personnel. Many older men returned to the sea, while boys too young to be in the regular armed forces went to sea to serve as boy seamen or cadets (training to become deck officers), cabin boys or stewards, many barely into their teens.

The CWGC has the names of 516 boys age 16 & under killed while in service, which includes the fourteen boys named below who were only 14 years old. There were also 36 men aged seventy and over. The two oldest casualities were both age 74 years.

Youngest Casualities in World War II

COOK, Cabin Boy, VINCENT GEORGE, Age 14.
S.S. Baron Kelvin (Ardrossan). Merchant Navy.
19th October 1941.

CORLETT, Mess Room Boy, GEORGE THOMAS, Age 14.
S.S. Kayeson (London). Merchant Navy.
2nd October 1940
Son of Catherine Corlett, of West Derby, Liverpool. 

HILLS, Deck Boy, WILLIAM CLUBBS, Age 14.
S.S. Rio Azul (London). Merchant Navy.
29th June 1941.
Son of Robert and Charlotte Hills, of South Shields, Co. Durham. 

HUNT, Cabin Boy, ALFRED GEORGE, Age 14.
S.S. Glenlea (Newcastle-on-Tyne). Merchant Navy.
7th November 1942.
Son of George Alfred and Norah Hunt, of Cardiff. 

JONES, Steward's Boy, ROBERT JOHN, Age 14.
S.S. Napier Star (London). Merchant Navy.
18th December 1940.
Son of William Edward and Ellen Jones. 

LEWIS, Mess Room Boy, KENNETH JAMES, Age 14.
S.S. Fiscus (Cardiff). Merchant Navy.
18th October 1940.
Son of Evan Thomas Lewis and Ethel Helena Lewis, of Cardiff.
His brother Raymond Leslie age 15 perished with him.

OSTRICH, Mess Room Boy, JOHN, Age 14.
S.S. Margo (Cardiff). Merchant Navy.
8th March 1941.
Son of Louis and Nancy Ostrich, of Canton, Cardiff.
Buried Penzance Cemetery Sec. F. New extn. Block 14. Grave 16.

PAGE, Galley Boy, ALFRED, Age 14.
S.S. Widestone (London). Merchant Navy.
17th - 18th November 1942.
 Son of William and Julia Page, of Cardiff. 

ROBINSON, Mess Room Boy, ROBERT, Age 14.
 S.S. Eston (London). Merchant Navy.
28th January 1940.
Son of Thomas and Ethel Robinson. 

SEXTON, Mess Room Boy, BERNARD PETER, Age 14.
S.S. Widestone (London). Merchant Navy.
17th - 18th November 1942.
Son of Charles and Mary Sexton, of Adamsdown, Cardiff. 

SMITH, Sailor, SYDNEY GEORGE, Age 14.
S.S. Amarylis (Panama). Merchant Navy.
2nd December 1942.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Smith, of Durban, Natal, South Africa. 

STEED, Galley Boy, RAYMOND VICTOR, Age 14.
S.S. "Empire Morn" (Barrow-in-Furness). Merchant Navy.
26th April 1943.
Raymond V. Steed is the youngest known WW II service death. Buried Ben M’Sik European Cemetery Plot 59A. Row 1. Grave 1.

WATSON, Mess Room Boy, JOHN, Age 14.
S.S. Arletta (London). Merchant Navy.
5th August 1942.
Son of James and Agnes Watson, of Larbert, Stirlingshire. 

WATSON, Engineers' Boy, THOMAS, Age 14.
S.S. Bialystok (Poland). Merchant Navy. Drowned 16th June 1944.
Buried Bone War Cemetery Plot VIII. Row F. Grave 9.
(Non-war casualty looked after by the CWGC).

Oldest Merchant Navy Casualities in World War II

KILLEY, James, Greaser
ss Fenella (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy.
Died 29 May, 1940, Age 74.

PERRY, Frederick William, 2nd Engineer Officer
ss Polzella (Penzance). Merchant Navy.
Died 13 January 1940. Age 74.

(Thanks to Billy McGee)

Return to: Memorials