Brave Young Men.

[On behalf of Shaun]

Newport residents who sacrificed their lives for us all:

O'Shea, Richard, 14, 6th May 1917, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Alfalfa", Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. O'Shea, of 4, Trinity Place, Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Steed, Raymond Victor, 14, 26th April 1943, Merchant Navy, S.S. "Empire Morn", Galley Boy, youngest killed in service during world war two, 20 Christchurch Road, Newport, Mon., Wilfred and Olive Steed (nee Bright), BEN M'SIK EUROPEAN CEMETERY, Plot 59A. Row 1. Grave 1.

Summers, Thomas William, 14, 17th June 1917, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Don Arturo", Assistant Steward, Son of William and Elizabeth Summers (nee Baslam), of 3, Providence Place, Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Barnes, Kenneth John, 15, 28th March 1941, Merchant Navy, S.S. Koranton, Galley Boy, John Henry Barnes Florence May Barnes, of Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 62.

Brimble, Robert Edwin, 15, 21st October 1941, Merchant Navy, S.S. Treverbyn, Son of William and Alice Brimble, of Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 111.

Hensley, William James, 15, 17th June 1917, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Don Arturo", Assistant Cook, Son of Annie Hensley, of 5, Brad St., Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Wyatt, Wilfred Sydney, 15, 26th February 1918, Mercantile Marine, Hospital ship "Glenart Castle", Fireman Steward, Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Wyatt, of 73, Stockton Rd., Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Williams, Albert Ronald, 15, 25th February 1940, Merchant Navy, S.S. Castlemoor, Galley Boy, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Samuel Williams, of Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 24.

Grieve, John Mearns, 16, 22nd January 1917, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Linwood", Mess Room Steward, Son of George Grieve, of 3, Kirby St., Newport, Mon., and the late Isabella Cruickshank Grieve (nee Mearns)., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Bennett, James, 16, 20th May 1941, Merchant Navy, M.V. Darlington Court, Deck Boy, Son of George H. Bennett, and of Edith Bennett, of New Tredegar, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 34.

Hall, Ronald Arthur William, 16, 15th November 1939, Merchant Navy, S.S. Woodtown, TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 120.

Pocock, Frederick Redvers, 16, 12th March 1917,Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Tandil", Cabin Boy, Son of Robert Daniel and Mary Elizabeth Pocock, of 52, Canal Parade, Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Bennett, William Thomas, 17, 2nd December 1940, Merchant Navy, S.S. Victoria City, Apprentice, Son of Thomas and Ivy Bennett, of Barry Dock, Glamorgan, TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 114.

Blythe, Ernest Albert, 17, 1st October 1917, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Mersario", Ordinary Seaman, Son of Sidney Arthur and Rose Blythe, of 54, Archibald St., Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Bransfield, Percy Reginald, 17, 8th August 1915, "C" Coy. 3rd Bn. South Wales Borderers, 19598, Private, Son of John and Ellen Bransfield, of 5, Mansel St., Newport, Mon., NEWPORT (ST. WOOLOS) CEMETERY, 17 "U." 50.

Burke, Augustine Joseph, 17, 12th October 1916, "C" Coy. 1st Bn Monmouthshire Regiment, 3123, Rifleman, Son of Mrs. K. A. Jones (formerly Burke), of 20, Rose St., Queen's Hill, Newport, Mon., and the late Robert Burke, FONCQUEVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY, I. K. 14.

Clemes, Norman Terence, 17, 27th February 1942, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Jupiter, D/JX 177473, Boy 1st Class, Son of Alfred Donald and Elizabeth Alice Clemes, of Malpas, Mon., PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Panel 67. Column 3.

Cox, Arthur, 17, 17th January 1918, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Windsor Hall", Apprentice, Son of Thomas Henry Cox, of 7, Grafton Rd., Newport, Mon., and the late Elizabeth Cox (nee Trigg), TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Cox, Victor Charles, 17, 6th May 1917, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Alfalfa", Mess Room Steward, Son of Charles Ernest and Susannah Cox, of Pleasant View, Penylan Park, Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Denning, Jack Vivian, 17, Merchant Navy, S.S. Port Hunter, TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 83.

Duggan, Reginald Arthur, 17, Merchant Navy, S.S. Koranton, Mess Room Boy, Son of Reginald Samuel and Evelyn Sylvia Duggan, of Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 62.

Fitzgerald, Patrick Richard, 17, 8th June 1940, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Glorious, D/JX 160532, Boy, Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Fitzgerald, of Newport, Mon., PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Panel 39, Column 2.

Houghton, Arthur James, 17, 5th March 1943, Merchant Navy, S.S. Fidra, Galley Boy, Son of Arthur James Houghton and Olive I. Houghton, of Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 49.

Phillips, William Arthur, 17, 7th July 1916, 16th Bn. South Wales Borderers, 40710, Private, Son of Mrs. Mary Jane Phillips, of 85, Dock St., Newport, Mon., THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Pier and Face 7 A and 10 A.

Stewert, William John Clifford, 17, 14th January 1942, Merchant Navy, S.S. Caledonian Monarch, Assistant Steward, Son of Thomas and Mary Ellen Stewart, of Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, Panel 22

Tobin, Albert Thomas, 17, 6th February 1917, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Azul", Ordinary Seaman, Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jane Tobin, of 11, Corelli St., Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Watkins, Edwin Boradale, 17, 22nd January 1917, Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Linwood", Ordinary Seaman, Son of Edwin George Herbert and Jessie Watkins (nee Jones), of 3, Charlotte St., Newport, Mon., TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

We attempt to remember all.

[JUST SOME WORDS THAT SADDEN ME]

Should I post under QUOTES as well ? DONE.

SOME WORDS THAT SADDEN ME

World War Plaques & all medals were intended to be kept by the families & their descendants, in the words of the Memorial Scroll: "Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten". In this mission many families failed & sadly this continues, more so as the modern trend of fragmented families & attendant distractions reduce those feelings of connection, debt, honour, sacrifice & remembrance.

A Galley boy Named Raymond Steed

The CWGC registers the names of 513 Merchant Seamen aged 14 to 16 who died between 1939-1945.

The youngest known recorded Second World War service death being that of:

STEED, Galley Boy, RAYMOND VICTOR, S.S. "Empire Morn" (Barrow-in-Furness). Merchant Navy. killed 26th April 1943. After his ship hit a mine. Age 14. Son of Wilfed & Olive Steed (nee Bright) of 20 Christchurch Road, Newport, Monmouthshire. Buried Ben M'Sik Cemetery. Plot 59A. Row 1. Grave 1.

COMMENT

telboy wrote:

I'm always somewhat bemused that most post(ers) (is there such a term?) are always more than ready to post on current topics, and rightly so.....but.... Articles like this always draw my attention, and I feel the majority of posters on this site should at least make some comment. Raymond Steed died when he was FOURTEEN years old. That's 14 years old. His was not a tragic co-lateral death in a warzone , he was serving aboard a merchant navy vessel in an active theatre of war. Raymond was killed 64 years ago but that should not lessen the sense of tragedy. He was a child when he died. A child, but with the maturity and strength to choose to stand against the dark clouds of Nazi tyranny shadowing europe then.

Raymond was killed some 18 years before I was born. I have a daughter of that age, and sons marginally younger and older. I always feel strongly about such events because Raymond and countless others died within what I class as living history for a cause that should be unquestionably remembered. All wartime death is tragic and the passage of time shouldn't dim our compassion. Kenneth, William, I'm 46 years old, but the passage of time since the sacrifice that your brother made doesn't make a difference to me. “They shall not grow 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.”

To get back to the issue in question, Newport Council, whatever your political persuasion, you should champion this cause and get young master Steed's statue placed in Newport. On a personal note, I think Raymond's statue should depict the dress of the day. When he died he was a Merchant seaman not a Scout (I'm not decrying Scouts my 2 sons were, and my daughter was a Bownie) Raymond was employed & died as a merchant Seaman and should be remembered as such. Haven't been on my soapbox for a while, but.........

18 Dec 07

[KEITH AT TREGENNA]

Honour bid for youngest war hero

The bravery of a 14-year-old boy, the youngest from Britain to die serving in World War II, should be remembered say campaigners.

Raymond Steed was a galley boy on a Merchant Navy ship when it was blown up after hitting a German mine off the African coast in 1943.

The teenager from Newport was just 14 years and 207 days old when he died, five months after joining up. Merchant Navy Association officials now want a statue erected in his honour.

Raymond and 20 crew mates died in April 1943 after his ship, the Empire Morn, exploded after hitting a U-Boat mine near its destination of Casablanca, Morocco. His body was recovered and buried in the Ben M'Sik military cemetery near the city, alongside him lays British Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck – just as the Field Marshal requested.

He has been officially recognised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as the youngest recorded fatality of the British service war dead.

Joining in December 1942, he served on the hospital ship Atlantis where he was awarded the Africa Star with clasp during Operation Torch when Allied troops landed on the beaches of North Africa. Then he transferred to the freighter Empire Morn as it set off in convoy from Milford Haven for Gibraltar and Casablanca where it was hit.

Merchant Navy Association officials are now fundraising for the money needed for a statue in honour of Raymond in Newport. Vice-president of the association Bertram Bale, 75, said:

"A memorial to Raymond would honour not only him but all the seamen who were killed in the war.”

"It would also be a fitting tribute to the sacrifices made by those unsung heroes who died on all convoys in all wars."