There is a sad story behind an inscription on one of the tomb stones in St David's Churchyard. Raymond Victor Steed served as a Galley Boy on the merchant ship SS Empire Morn which struck a mine off North Africa on 26th April 1943. He was killed in the explosion, the youngest killed in the second world war. He was buried in the Ben M’sik European Cemetery, a large civilian cemetery approximately six kilometres from Casablanca, Morocco. An inscription was also added to his grandparents' grave.

 

RAYMOND VICTOR STEED

A Galley Boy named Raymond Steed joined the Empire Morn,
At the docks in Newport, close where he was born,
In The Merchant Navy now - but only just fourteen,
He'd gone to sail in convoys - fighting fit and keen.

Nineteen forty three it was, aggression in full flow,
Unmindful of the danger, he couldn't wait to go,
Ray carried out his duties, earning meagre pay,
Until alas in April, his world was blown away.

Not far off Casablanca, the `Empire` struck a mine,
Laid there by a U-Boat with purpose and design,
The consequent explosion, set cargo blasting then,
Killing brave young Raymond and twenty other men.

His body's in Morocco, near the road to Marrakesh,
In a nurtured cemetery surroundings trim and fresh,
He was the youngest Seaman, to go and lose his life,
While standing firm in jeopardy mid the wartime strife.

Greater than five hundred boys, were sent to Neptune's floor,
Sixteenth birthdays never met, lost for evermore,
They helped sustain our lifelines in a hostile time at sea,
Those young and unsung heroes that sailed for you and me

Old Photos courtesy of Billy McGee. The photo of the Empire Morn has a photo of Raymond overwritten on it and was found in his seaman's pouch by Billy. The poem was written by Capt. Joe Earl, a retired Master and poet, commissioned by Billy. Thanks to Shaun McGuire for his help. See the website on Newport's War Dead.