My grandfather had a moustache and was a sailor for seven years. I had therefore assumed that this photo of moustached young men on a ship included my grandfather, Evan George. It was, after all, filed in the family-photos box. However, today, I looked closely at these crew members and have come to the conclusion that none of them is my grandfather – not even the one with the photographic blob on the bridge of his nose, who resembles him a bit. What’s more, the name of the ship is not familiar. So why have I got this photo, originally mounted on a large thick board but now roughly cut away to a more manageable size?

I have now discovered that the SS Den of Ruthven was built in 1907, some years after Evan had abandoned his career as a sailor, so I have to assume that our family has some other connection to these young men.

The Royal Maritime Museum at Greenwich includes among the crew list of 1915:

• Ezes (probably should be Ezer) Owens; rank/rating, Master; age, 40; place of birth, Dinas Cross; previous ship, same.

Come on Dinasites (as the County Echo used to call the inhabitants of Dinas), I challenge you to recognise this Owens and claim him for your family trees!

The SS Den of Ruthven unloading a cargo of Oregon Pine at the New Railway Wharf, Aukland, New Zealand., 30th July 1908. (Photo courtesy of Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.)

Shipping stud cattle at Aukland for Honolulu by the SS Den of Rothven, December 12th 1908.(Photo courtesy of Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries)