Prestatyn grave of Arthur Rowland Jones
Grave of Arthur Rowland Jones (d.1918)
Arthur was born in Liverpool. His father was a Master Mariner sailing out of the city’s docks. The family lived at Toxteth Park. After finishing his education, Arthur went to sea. By the outbreak of the First World War, he was living with his wife and young son at Thornhill, Pennyffordd, Ffynnongroyw.
In April 1915, Arthur was engaged as First Officer on RMS Lusitania – the pride of the Cunard Line and at the time the world’s largest passenger liner. On 7 May 1915, Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland. Hundreds of people died, including many women and children. Arthur saved countless lives by launching the liner’s lifeboats and then rescuing survivors floundering in the water.
British propogandists used the catastrophe to great effect to get men to enlist by highlighting the enemy’s barbarity.
Arthur returned to the Port of Liverpool and continued to serve in the Mercantile Marine during the war. He became Master (Captain) of the steamship Avanti. On 2 February 1918, the ship was carrying a cargo of iron ore from Bilboa, Spain, to Hartlepool when it was torpedoed by a German submarine in the English Channel with the loss of all hands.
Arthur’s body was recovered and brought to Prestatyn for burial. His widow Elizabeth later resided at The Nook, Chapel Road.