Image credit: Senan Molony/UK National Archives
William E. G. Jones, about 29, was a British subject and the Third Electrician aboard Lusitania‘s last voyage. He survived the Lusitania disaster.
On the day of the disaster, 7 May 1915, Jones had just finished his watch and was about to climb into his bunk when the torpedo struck. He rushed to the deck and helped passengers with their lifebelts and onto the boat deck. Jones was caught up in the swirl of water as the Lusitania sank from underneath him. He was sucked down the second funnel and “in a twinkling,” expelled from the bowels of the ship.
Jones was not a swimmer, but he managed to reach a piece of wreckage in the water and held onto it. He was rescued three hours later.
Jones later became the chief electrical engineer aboard Scythia. In 1935, Jones attended a crew reunion held in commemoration of the Lusitania‘s 20th sinking anniversary in New York City. The reunion was hosted by former Senior Third Officer but now-captain and assistant marine superintendent John Idwal Lewis. Also in attendance were Richard Wylie, since then promoted to assistant marine engineer of the Cunard-White Star Line; Alexander Duncan, since then promoted to chief officer of the Berengaria; and Albert Charles Dunn, since then promoted to chief engineer of the Bantria. They drank a silent toast to their shipmates who were lost in the Lusitania sinking.
Contributors
Jim Kalafus, USA
Senan Molony, Ireland
Michael Poirier, USA
References
Kalafus, Jim & Michael Poirier ( 2005 ) “Lest We Forget Part 2 : As The Lusitania Went Down” Gare Maritime. Online. (ref: #4701, accessed 5 September 2012) <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/lusitania-lest-we-forget-2.html>.
“Three Lusitania Survivors Drink Toast to Shipmates.” Reading Eagle. Tuesday, 7 May 1935, page 13.
Local Press reports of WEG Jones survival (interviews carried out with him immediately following his return home) suggest that his rescue was more complicated than described and did not involve the Stormcock.
I am WEG Jones’ grandson and I have been working with the Mersey Maritime Museum in researching his rescue and his life.
Please note that much more information about the rescue of WEG ‘Billy’Jones has come to light. Owing to his family background, the local press took a considerable interest in his survival and reports of several interviews he gave at the time have been located. Undoubtedly some of the reports are fanciful but one or two are much more believable and fit with family tradition. Read together, it seems that the account above is only a small part of the story……..
Thank you for the writing about William Ewart, muchly appreciated.