The Paddle steamer(pic right) is not the ship William served on,it is the South Western's sister ship,note the Merchant flag at the rear of the ship.(click on the picture to see a colour line drawing of the S.S South Western that William served on).This vessel on the right was owned by South Western Steam Navagation Co(she was the first steamer owned by this company,more history about southwestern railway on the L&SWR Page),built by Ditchburn & Mare.Sold in 1863 to Japanese buyers.This vessel had a gross tonnage 0f around 209 and a top speed of about 11 knots. This ship was also involved in providing a regular service between the Channel Islands and the U.K mainland.

Details and a short history of S.S South Western II.

This is the merchant vessel William Fielding served on she was the second vessel with the same name.
SOUTH WESTERN DETAILS.
London and South Western steamer built and engined by J&W Dudgeon, London 1874.
Re-engined in 1890, by Day Summers 7 Co,Southampton,who built the first submarine. The S.S South Western is mentioned in the 1881 Jersey(u.k) census.
Although the vessel was never totally wrecked,she had by no means a quite life. In December 1881 she was involved in a collision with a Norwegion bargue and in July 1893 was again in collision,this time with the Bay Fisher.

She was an attractive looking ship for her period and very typical of a passenger/cargo ferry with derricks to for and aft holds, open bridge, and six lifeboats, four on amidships superstructure and two aft. It looks as though she was originally intended to be the second of a pair of identical steamers with the GUERNSEY but was obviously lengthened whilst on the stocks from 195.6ft. to 222.3ft. (Incidentally the GUERNSEY was also lost at Cap de la Hague, this time on 8 April 1915 but she hit the rocks because the lighthouse was not working due to wartime black out conditions!

Between the 16th & 18th March 1918 the South Western was sunk by the German submarine UB-59 in the English channel,while 9miles SW from St.Cathrines Point,Jersey,U.K, while on voyage from Southampton to St.Malo,carrying general cargo.There is conflicting evidence about the sinking, of Southwestern.The book "Merchant Fleets Vol24" states that she was en route from Jersey to St.Malo when she was sunk,and had left on the 16th March. This date is an example of the difficulty with over night or en route sailings as she is recorded by different sources as having been sunk on both the 16th&17th March,but i believe it was the 16th,as stated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.All together 24 lives where lost, with only six surviving,including the Captain.1918.

South western was built ago.
has passed since south western's launch.
south western's first trial run on the Jersey mail route was ago.

South western sunk ago!
has passed since south western sunk.
south western was sunk by UB-59 ago.