William Watkin Roberts was born in 1871 and was a member of a well known seafaring family.
He was master and owner of the three masted schooner “John Pritchard”. This ship was sunk by an Austrian submarine in the Mediterranean April 1916 – the crew survived.
After some time at home, having a wife and home to support, he took a position as 2nd Officer on S.S. Highbury owned by Watts Watt of London.
This vessel was sunk by U-82 on 14 June 1917, approximately 100 miles WSW of Bishop Rock, 31 May 1917 on a voyage from Antofagasta to Birkenhead with nitrates. All crew lost. His body washed up on the Irish coast and he is buried in Porthmadog Public cemetery .