Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
Donkeyman William Gray of Felling, Gateshead, County Durham was aboard the British cargo ship S.S. Gibraltar, ship number 114017, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-Boat U-27, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Gerhard Schulz, 100 miles SE1/2S from Cape Creus, Spanish territory near the French border, on a voyage from Karachi to Marseille, France, September 12th 1917.
Records state that 4 individuals were lost, Fireman Thomas Blackwood born at Hebburn age 42, [Fireman, S.S. Gibraltar, Mercantile Marine, †12/09/1917, Son of the late Matthew and Catherine Blackwood; husband of Eliza Blackwood (nee Millan), of Back Summeson Buildings, Low Walker-on-Tyne, Northumberland. Born at Hebburn, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial], 2nd Engineer Alex David Smith 28 years of Arbroath, Scotland, [Second Engineer, S.S. Gibraltar, Mercantile Marine, †12/09/1917, Son of Jean Clark Smith (nee Davidson), of Lochshade Cottage, Viewfield Rd., Arbroath, Forfar, and the late Alexander Smith. Born at Arbroath, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial], and Fireman John Warren born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne aged 45, [Mercantile Marine, †12/09/1917, Son of Margaret and the late James Warren; husband of Elizabeth Ann Warren (nee Christie), of Back Sumerson Buildings, Low Walker-on-Tyne, Northumberland. Born at Newcastle, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial], Donkeyman William Gray was initially saved and taken to the nearest port, Toulon, France, where there was a military hospital run by the Red Cross.
Donkeyman W Gray died two days later September 14th 1917 and was initially interred at Toulon West Cemetery, grave J. 33. It was not until July 20th 1956 that his body was exhumed along with a further 3 members of the Mercantile Marine, a Private Royal Army Service Corp, a Private Royal Irish Regiment, and a Private of the Cheshire Regiment, all of whom were brought into Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseille for reburial.
Donkeyman William Gray is at rest grave XI. B. 6.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
He is remembered in Victims of Piracy – Mercantile Marine Roll of Honour and on our List of Ships’ crews
Naval Net War diary 12th September 1917.
EU Wreck site
The CWGC entry for Donkeyman Gray
