Heslop’s Local Advertiser 2306/1916
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 23/06/1916
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 23/06/1916
H.M.S. Queen Mary
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Alexander Slowther Jnr. born December 5th 1897 at Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham, one of 4 known children, all sons. His father Alexander Slowther Snr. a native of Washington, County Durham worked as a coal miner and mother Ellen Bemmant formerley Moor nee Reay born in 1864 at Felling. This was Ellen’s third marriage, she was born Ellen Reay, at the age of 20 in 1884, she married John Moor at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and gave birth to sons John George 1886 and Robert 1887. Her second marriage took place at Gateshead in 1890 to miner Lawrence Lambert Bemmant of Oakenshaw, Durham with whom she had a daughter Ethel the following year. In 1891 they were living at Parkinson Street, Heworth next door to the Slowther family. Lawrence died aged 23 in 1891, Ellen married Alexander Slowther in the district of Gateshead in 1897.
Ellen can be found in 1901 living at 29, Heworth Terrace, Gateshead with all of her 6 children, the eldest John George and Robert Moor both worked as draper’s assistants, meanwhile Alexander Snr. was working away from home. Ten years later the situation is slightly changed, she now has 7 children with the birth of a daughter Elizabeth Slowther, living at 2 Booth Street, Felling, working as a draper’s agent at home. John George Moor is still a draper’s assistant, his brother Robert had married and was now living at Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the remaining children including Alexander Jnr are scholars. Husband Alexander Snr. is boarding with his brother John and his wife and family at 7, Eldron Street, Felling, still working as a miner/hewer.
Alexander Slowther Jnr. enlisted, exact date unknown and was assigned to the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve as Able Seaman Tyneside Z/8995 aboard H.M.S. Queen Mary.
H.M.S. Queen Mary was laid down in 1911 she was built at Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow, on the River Tyne. Launched in 1912 and commissioned for service September 4th 1913. After sea trials and pre-war voyages to Russia she prepared for combat August 28th 1914 supporting in early fighting. Refitted with a new fire control system in 1915 she returned to duty in February 1916. As the 1st Squadron Battlecruiser she sailed in support of the 5th Battle Squadron in the opening phases of the Battle of Jutland. Engaging at 3:48 pm on May 31 1916, the German fire proved accurate from the outset. At 3:50 pm Queen Mary opened fire on SMS Seydlitz with its forward turrets. As Beatty closed the range, Queen Mary scored two hits on its opponent and disabled one of Seydlitz's aft turrets. Around 4:15 pm, HMS Lion came under intense fire from Hipper's ships. The smoke from this obscured HMS Princess Royal forcing SMS Derfflinger to shift its fire to Queen Mary. As this new enemy engaged, the British ship continued to trade hits with Seydlitz.
At 4:26 pm a shell from Derfflinger struck Queen Mary detonating one or both of its forward magazines. The resulting explosion broke the battlecruiser in half near its foremast. A second shell from Derfflinger may have hit further aft. As the after part of the ship began to roll, it was rocked by a large explosion before sinking.
Her wreck was discovered in 1991 and rests in pieces, some of which are upside down, on the floor of the North Sea. H.M.S. Queen Mary is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 as it is the grave of 1,266 officers and men, only 20 of her crew were rescued.
Able Seaman Tyneside Z/8995 Alexander Slowther died May 31st 1916, aged 18 years 10 months and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. The Memorial is one of three commissioned at the end of WW1 by the Admiralty, the others being at Plymouth and Portsmouth, in the shape of an obelisk, bearing the names of members of the Royal Navy who have no known grave, having died at sea where no permanent memorial could be raised.
His mother Ellen at 2 Booth Street, Felling received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ellen Slowther died aged 66 years, July 14th 1930, probate of £1417 18s 11d was left to her eldest son from her first marriage John George Moor listed as a general manager. Alexander Slowther Snr died aged 80, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 2nd quarter of 1943.
Two of Alexander’s full brothers also served. Ernest Slowther born December 13th 1898 at Felling, enlisted in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, service number J88670, aboard the Victory I, fitted as a Naval School of Telegraphy, based at Chatham, Kent, first date of service May 10th 1918. He died aged 68 years in the district of Gateshead, in 1967.
Albert Edward Slowther born February 3rd 1901 at Felling enlisted February 6th 1919 service number SS119621 assigned to Victory II Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, a shore station based at Portsmouth, last served December 31st 1919. He married Lily Stewart in the district of Gateshead, June 1926 and died aged 55, May 21st 1956.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 23/06/1916 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads:
'A.B. Alexander Slowther, lost on H.M.S. Queen Mary, May 31st, aged 18½ years. Son of Ellen Slowther, 2 Booth Street, Felling'.
The same edition carries further information:
'A.B. Alexander Slowther had only been two months on H.M.S. Queen Mary when the call for action came. During his short stay on board we learn that he had made the acquaintance of Petty Officer Reay, and there was immediately a kinship of feeling between them because of the place they both called ‘home’. He had only been six months in training altogether. Before entering the Navy he was employed in the grocery department of Felling Co-operative Society where he won the good opinion of both his fellow workmen and the management committee. He was a scholar in the United Methodist Sunday School in Crow Hall. Everybody speaks of him as a fine lad, and his loss is keenly felt by many who had the pleasure of knowing him. His mother, Mrs. Slowther, of 2, Booth Street, Felling, received a severe shock by the news of her son’s death, and many are the expressions of sympathy that have been received by her and his brother, Mr. J.G. Moore, who is well-known as the manager of the drapery department of Felling Co-operative Society. Mrs. Slowther has five sons serving their King and Country in France, one of whom, Corpl. Robt. Moore, of the 12th Durhams, has recently been home on leave after being in a British Hospital for about ten weeks. He has now sufficiently recovered and has returned to his Battalion, after having already served about twelve months in France.'
Alexander Slowther is remembered in Felling on F32.01 and F32.08, in Heworth on H92.03 and on our List of Ships’ crews.
