Charles Gibson Hutchinson was lost at sea on the 1st August 1918. He was killed on S.S. Cambria, [North Cambria], when carrying munitions from America
Charles Gibson Hutchinson was born at 21 Lawton Street, Elswick, in June, 1900, the youngest child of two children to John Henry Hutchinson, born 1864, baptised 27th March 1864, died 1935, and his wife Isabella nee Gibson, born 24th July 1871, they were married on the 28th November 1894 at St Paul’s at Elswick. The other child was Margaret Gibson Hutchinson, born 8th November 1895, she married in 1915, Arthur John Ward Hornby, [born 18th January 1893, died 6th February 1971], they had 5 children. In 1939, they were residing at Salcombe, Devon).
The Father was a Mechanical Draughtsman employed by the Armstrong works at Elswick. Charles was an apprentice to a shipbuilder company.
In 1891 the father was residing at 48 Pine Street, Elswick. By 1901, now married he was residing with the rest of the family at 21 Lawton Street, Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne. By 1911, Charles was an elder at the Wingrove Road, Presbyterian Church.
Charles Gibson Hutchinson was an apprentice aboard the SS North Cambrian, ship number 125636, he was the only son of John Henry and Isabella Hutchinson of ‘Wingrove’ Naters Street, Whitley Bay, late of 162, Wingrove Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne. He was 5 feet nine inches, 140lbs. He was a crew member on board the SS North Cambria, arriving at New York on the 26th December 1917 from Swansea, he was engaged from the 3rd December 1917, and again on the 26th June 1918, he arrived at New York from Lisbon, Portugal on the SS North Cambria, he was engaged from the 14th May 1916.
SS North Cambria sank after a collision with SS Port Stephens, ship number 110507, on passage from New York for La Pallice with railway material.
“While on passage in a Trans-Atlantic convoy from New York, the ‘Port Stephens‘ collided with the ‘North Cambria‘ off Ushant on the 2nd August 1918. Both ships were running without lights and the ‘Port Stephens‘ struck ‘North Cambria‘ at right angles. She sank within three minutes and all 26 members of her crew were drowned.”
Quoting from : – ‘The Tyser Legacy’
Shields Daily News Monday 05/08/1918 carries a report :
Steamer North Cambria Sunk
The steamer North Cambria, of London, has been sunk by collision with a British steamer. Seven of the crew landed, but the remainder are missing. The North Cambrian is a vessel of 3.677 gross tons, and according to ‘Directory of Shipowners’, belongs to Messrs, Hugh Roberts and Son, Newcastle upon Tyne.
There are High Court of Admiralty records at the National Archives under the following references: HCA20/1618/425, HCA27/180/1015, HCA20/1631/1015, HCA27/179/792, HCA20/1626/792 and HCA27/178/425. You’ll also find the crew agreement for 1918 under reference BT110/375/18 and the ship’s log for 1918 under reference BT99/3437. Logs for 1908-1917 are held at the Memorial University, Newfoundland.
In 1939, his mother Isabella, widow was residing at 47 Beatty Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne with Edward Gibson Hutchinson, born 18th December 1897, an accountant, and John C Hutchinson, born 23rd April 1902. In WW2 John was a Deputy Officer A 2 Squad, Demolition and Rescue. A.R.P., in Newcastle upon Tyne.
There is no CWGC entry for Charles Gibson Hutchinson.
However the CWGC show a HINDS, WILLIAM HENRY (26), Signalman (no. Wales/Z/2986), S.S. North Cambria, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 01/08/1918, Husband of Annie Hinds, of 2, Gladstone St., Abertillery, Mon, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Sources: Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust, teesbuiltships.co.uk; Maritime Quest; James Pasby
Charles Gibson Hutchinson is remembered at Fenham on F31.27 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
