Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1950 & 59

William Llewellyn Arter OBE (1874 - 1958)


William Llewellyn Arter was a Merchant Seaman, becoming Chief Engineer, mainly on Manchester Liners. He was at sea for over 50 years, serving during the First and Second World Wars and was awarded an Order of the British Empire medal for outstanding conduct.


He was born in 1874 in Borth, Cardiganshire, Wales. His father was Enoch Arter (1850 – 1898) who was a Mariner, and his mother was Caroline Louisa (nee Evans) Arter (1855 – 1824). William was the eldest of eight children and his siblings were Margaret Louisa (born 1876), Evan Lewis (born 1881), Annie (born 1883), Enoch James (born 1886), Emma Catherine (born 1888), Agnes Lilian (born 1891) and Eleanor J (born 1894). In 1881 the family lived at 5, Wellington Place, Cyloeth-y-Brenin, near Aberystwyth. William's father was absent (probably at sea), his mother Caroline was 26 years old, William was aged 6, Margaret was aged 4 and Evan was 0. In 1891 they lived at Glanavon Cottage, Princess Street, Clyoeth-y-Brenin, where both father Enoch and 16-year-old William were absent (and probably at sea). The census shows Caroline aged 37, Margaret aged 14, Evan aged 10, Annie aged 8, Enoch (jnr) aged 5 and Emma aged 3.


In the third quarter of 1903 William married Sarah Ann Owens at St David's Welsh Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Deansgate, Manchester. Sarah Ann (born 29th July 1874 in Manchester) was the daughter of Morris Owens, (born 1847 in Eglwys Fach, Denbighshire) a Millwright, and Mary Owens, (born 1845 in Holywell, Flintshire). In 1901 the Owens family lived at 32 West Clowes Street, Salford. William and Sarah had three children: William Llewellyn jnr (born 1906 in Salford), Marion (born 1910 in Salford who died 1912 aged 18 months) and Mary Owens (born 1913 at Stretford, Manchester). In 1911 the Arter family lived with Sarah's parents at 32 West Clowes St, Salford. The 1924 Electoral Register records William in the Stretford Constituency. The 1939 Register records William's wife Sarah Ann lived at 85 Humphrey Road, Old Trafford, Stretford with their son William L Arter jnr who was a Music Teacher, aged 33 and single. Also in the house was William's daughter Mary Owens Topf aged 26 who was a Massage Student. William was absent and probably at sea.


William Llewellyn Arter spent most of his career working for Manchester Liners Ltd as Chief Engineer. He served on the Manchester Brigade, Manchester Hero, Manchester Division, War Pundit, Manchester Citizen and Manchester Progress. He was at sea for over 50 years throughout both World Wars, in which he received Gallantry and Long Service medals and later the Order of the British Empire. Shipping Lists for 1943 show William Llewellyn Arter, Marine Engineer, aged 68, departing Liverpool for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on the Furness Line ship Lochmonar.


William's wife Sarah Ann, died on 25th February 1950 aged 75 and was buried in the Owens family grave A4 (Diss) 32 at Weaste Cemetery. William Llewellyn Arter died on 4th January 1858 aged 84 and was re-united with Sarah Ann on 8th January 1958.