Sidney Thompson Swan

A Deck Hand with H.M.S. Q20, Sidney died on 29th of March 1917 at the age of 27. 

Sidney was born at Lowestoft on 10 May 1890, a son of Thompson and Elizabeth Swan. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 4 June 1890, and his family lived at Canary Cottage, Whapload Road. In 1901 they lived at 2 Cumberland Square. By 1911 they were living at 38 May Road, and Sidney was a fisherman working on drifters.  

On 26 November 1914 Sidney married Annie Coleman at Saint Margaret’s Church. Sidney was a fish salesman living at 38 May Road and Annie lived at 110 Beccles Road. By February 1915 they were living at 53 Ipswich Road. Annie died in 1916. 

Sidney joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 15 February 1915. He served on the trawler Grace Lilian until 17 January 1917 when he joined H.M.S. Q 20.  

H.M.S. Q 20 was a motor lugger, fishing vessel, built in 1908. The vessel also went under a number of different names, including: H.M.S. Bayard, Ledger 898, and Syren. Technically a ‘Q ship’ the lugger was fitted with one 13 pounder and one 3 pounder gun and would be ‘disguised’ until it came upon an enemy submarine, or other boat, at which point the ‘Q ship’ would engage the enemy. On 11 March 1917 the Q 20 engaged two enemy submarines and damaged one of them. 

On 29 March 1917 the Q 20 was in the English Channel and collided with the S.S. Tainui. The Q 20 sank with the loss of 16 crew.