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Parry, Samuel Edward

Samuel Edward Parry was born 3rd March 1899 and according to the St. Mark’s Church Parish Registers, was Baptised there on the 29th March 1899 the son of Thomas & Elizabeth Parry (nee Bennett), Stone Row, Mariner.

Thomas Parry and Elizabeth Jane Bennett had married in the same church on the 20th December 1893, Thomas, 25, states his home was in Northop Hall and he was a Mariner, his father Samuel was a Labourer.    Elizabeth Jane Bennett, 23, states her home was in Connah’s Quay and her father was Edward Bennett a Mariner.   Witnesses were :- John DAVIES, Latham PARRY, Francis PARRY & Margaret A. DAVIES

The 1901 census sees the family living at 8, Stone Row, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire in the home of Elizabeth Jane’s mother Jane Bennett, 57, a widow who had been born in Neath, Glamorganshire.  Elizabeth Jane Parry was described as her daughter, age 29 and married, her children, all Jane’s Grandchildren were Mary Jane, 6, Ethel, 4 and Samuel Edward 2.    Thomas must have been at sea.

The National School Admission Registers & Log-books 1870-1914 Transcription gives Samuel Edward’s birth date as the 3rd March 1899, but his father’s name was given as Samuel Edward, which must have been a clerical error as everything else is correct,  and this was his first school which he entered on the 19th September 1904.   This source also confirms his address as 8, Stone Row.

The 1911 census  shows the family had moved to 72, Church Street, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire (6 rooms), again Thomas wasn’t there, Elizabeth Jane Parry, was described as “Wife” she tells us that she had been married 17 years and 5 children had been born, all still living.   All the family had been born in Connah’s Quay.   Daughter Mary, 16 was at School, Ethel Kate, 14, was a Dressmaker’s Apprentice, Samuel Edward, 12, was at school, Tom, 9 and Elizabeth, 1 year old made up the family.    Jane Bennett, 67, Elizabeth Jane’s mother, was a widow.

The 1921 census finds Thomas Parry, most probably at sea again, he seems to have missed every census since he was married.   However, Elizabeth J. Parry tells us she is now 49 years and 11 months old, and her children are also listed – Ethel Kate Parry, now 24 years and 6 months old, single and a Dressmaker on her own account, Tom Parry, is now 19 years and 3 months old and is single and a Sailor for Munroe Brothers, Liverpool, but was “Out of Work.”   Elizabeth Parry was now 11 years and 6 months old and was in school.  Likewise, Samuel Edward Parry was missing from the census, probably, also at Sea.

We do not see Samuel Edward again until his death.  He had obviously taken after his father and joined the Merchant Navy, as his Identity Certificate tells us, but there is not date on that.

British armed forces and overseas deaths and burials Transcription tells us that his death was feared by supposed drowning as his vessel, the “Privet” was missing from the 5th December 1940.

Samuel Edward Parry in the UK, Merchant Seamen Deaths, 1939 -1953 confirms his death at sea along with 8 crew.    Samuel Edward Parry was the Master.   Transmitted by the Owners – Newry & Kilkeel Steamship Co. Ltd., 19, Buttercrane Quay, Newry.

It makes you wonder if this ship, the “Privet” was attacked and disappeared just as the “Farfield” did in 1943. (excerpt from Frederick Edward’s notes, please click on the link to read his story. – Steamer was Bombed by Enemy Aircraft off Welsh Coast when all the Crew were Killed. List sent 6th January 1943. Amend. Sent 19th April 1943.  – Then there was a survivor who was able to tell what had happened. This time, no one survived.

Tower Hill Panel 85

PARRY, Master, SAMUEL EDWARD, S.S. Privet (Newry). Merchant Navy. 5th December 1940. Age 40. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jane Parry; husband of Mildred C. N. Parry, of Annalong, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19395077

Newry remembers boating tragedies

By Francis Gorman

BBC NI District Reporter

28 August 2012

A memorial plaque was unveiled at the weekend to remember the victims of the boating tragedies

About 200 people gathered at the edge of Carlingford Lough at the weekend for a memorial service for 18 seamen who perished in two separate boating tragedies during World War II.

On 5 December 1940, the SS Privet, with a crew of nine, left Birkenhead with a cargo of coal bound for Belfast.   It disappeared without trace in bad weather.   Ten months later on 27 October 1941, the SS Walnut, also with a crew of nine, left Birkenhead with a cargo of coal bound for Newry.   It too disappeared without trace. There were no survivors. Both boats belonged to the Fisher shipping company in Newry.

James McArevey of the Newry Maritime Association organised the memorial service. He agrees the two tragedies had been largely forgotten.

“Remember that we were in the early years of World War II and there was so much going on that even though there were 18 men involved, they just got airbrushed,” he said.   “But today we hope to bring closure to the 18 families with the memorial service and the unveiling of the plaque.”

David Burns, who was 34, perished on the SS Privet.

New Zealand

His son Leslie, now 76, was four years old when his grandfather came to tell his mother the bad news.   “When he said that there was no word from the crew or the ship, my mother burst into tears and I can remember her tears actually falling onto the kitchen floor,” he said.   Leslie’s brother David travelled 12,000 miles from New Zealand to take part in the ceremony.  “This is important,” he said.

“That is why I am here.   “This is something for the people of Newry and the descendants of the two crews.   “They can come and have a moment of quiet reflection here.”

The youngest of the crewmen was 18-year-old Oswald Hughes from Wales.   His sister Marlu said it was months before his family found out he was dead.   “My father was in the Navy and knew my brother was also at sea somewhere but he didn’t know he was on the SS Walnut*,” she said.

*I think this should read SS Privet as there was no-one named BURNS on the Walnut and a David Burns was on the Privet. – Mavis.

David Burns travelled 12,000 miles to take part in the ceremony

Jane Kane Ketch lost her father William Clawson on the SS Privet. (The name listed was Henry CLAWSON)

She had travelled from the US for the service.   “This means a lot,” she said.   “It really brings my father back.   “It means that he is no longer just something in the past. He is still here with us today.”

Eleven of the crewmen who perished in the two tragedies came from the Newry area.

The others came from Carrickfergus, Annalong, Carlingford, Dublin, Waterford and Aberystwyth.

The granite stone memorial plaque stands next to the Victoria Lock gates on the road between Newry and Omeath.

See also https://www.newryjournal.co.uk/2007/03/17/newry-shipping-losses/     AND  http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?t=14151  dated 12th October 2007, 21:45 (Billy1963 Forum)

Taken from the above website:-  As far as I can gather nothing was found of both ships. Lloyds War Losses Vol.II can only guess at what dates they were lost.   The Privet was not officially recorded as missing until January 8th 1941 and a Joint Arbitration Committee considered her lost 5/6th December by marine cause.    The Walnut was not officially recorded as missing until 26th November 1941 and a Joint Arbitration Committee considered her lost 27/28th October 75% marine & 25% war cause.

(Lists of the Crews are listed on the Plymouth Memorial).

Samuel Edward Parry is mentioned in the UK, Shipping and Seamen WWI and WWII Rolls of Honour, 1914-1945

Samuel Edward Parry in the Web: Northern Ireland, Will Calendar Index, 1858-1965 – Parry, Samuel Edward of Seacrest, Annalong county Down master of S.S. Privet died 5 December 1940 at sea Administration Belfast 16 October to Mildred Parry the widow.

Samuel Edward Parry had married Mildred but I have no proof of this and cannot find their marriage, but as Samuel Edward’s address was in Ireland, the chances are that he met and married Mildred there, so any information would be gratefully received.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annalong

His father Thomas had died on the 24th January 1934 as hid Probate shows:-

PARRY, Thomas of 72, Church Street, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire died 20th January 1934   Administration Bangor 5th March to Elizabeth Jane Parry Widow.

The 1939 National Register which was taken on the 29th September of that year, shows Elizabeth Jane Parry as incapacitated and a widow, her birth date as the 17th July 1871, her daughter Elizabeth, born 21st December 1909 was single and doing ”Unpaid Domestic Duties,” as all women were described on the Register if they were not working and “At home.”   Also in the household at 72, Church Street, Connah’s Quay was her other daughter Mary Jane Butler (nee Parry) who’s birthdate was given as 21st September 1894 and married to Archibald G Butler, who was a House Decorator.

Elizabeth Jane Parry died in 1943, so she would have suffered the grief of losing her husband in 1934 and then her son in 1940. – PARRY, Elizabeth Jane of 72, Church Street, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire, Widow died 22nd January 1943.   Probate Bangor 15th November  to Tom PARRY, Aircraft Fitter.

His family must have put his name forward for the Connah’s Quay & Shotton War Memorial, as he was born here and therefore should be remembered here.


Learn more about the other soldiers on the Connahs Quay and Shotton War Memorial

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