Heslop’s Local Advertiser 20/07/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
Peter Simpson Green was born at Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham in 1892, one of 11 children of whom only eight survived. He was the youngest of 3 sons and 5 daughters. His father ,George Green, was born in Northern Ireland in 1853, brought to England by his parents between 1856 and 1861. They settled at Felling Lane, Heworth. Aged 19 years he worked as a chemical labourer. However after his marriage to Mary Simpson, native of Heworth born 1854, he was employed as a stationary engiineman. In 1881 he and his wife and 3 children were living at Gallon’s Yard, later moving to Caroline Terrace. At the age of 48 George Green maintained his employment as an engineman at the chemical works, daughter Maria (20) was a shop assistant at a baker and confectioner's, George Jnr (14) was an errand boy at the port, Louisa (12), Peter (9) and Margaret (6) were scholars. By 1911 his father’s employment was unchanged, Peter and his brother George Jnr. both worked at Clark Chapman's as a labourer and apprentice fitter respectively. Louise was employed at the Cooperative store as a machinist/tailoress, as was her sister Maggie in the drugs department. Maria assisted her mother at home.
On the outbreak of war Peter, aged 21 years, joined the Mercantile Marine and by 1917 had risen through the ranks to 3rd Engineer and been assigned to the British steamer S.S. “Farnham”. Built by Thompson & Sons of Sunderland in 1898 at the time of her loss, she was owned by Thompson Steam Shipping Company. Ltd. Whilst on route from Bizerta, Tunisia to the Clyde, Glasgow, carrying a cargo of iron ore, May 19th 1917, she was torpedoed by German submarine U-57 (Carl-Siegfried Ritter Von Georg), 90 miles north west off the Fastnet lighthouse at the most southerly point of Ireland, and sank.
3rd Engineer 2436X Peter Simpson Green, Mercantile Marine, was one of the 17 persons lost. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 12,000 names engraved on Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London, commemorating those from the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets who died during both wars and perished where no permanent memorial could be raised. Peter Simpson Green was 25 years old and single. He was a recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
George Green died at Gateshead aged 65 years in 1919. Details regards the demise of Peter’s mother are unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 20/07/1917 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads:
“Peter Simpson Green, aged 25 years, whose ship was torpedoed. Son of George and the late Mary Green, of St.John’s Place, Felling.
Peter Simpson Green is remembered in Felling on F32.07 and on our List of Ships’ crews
