Photo; Geordie at War Project

Company of Master Mariners of Australia

In loving memory of
Robert William,
beloved husband of
Mary Ann Brewis,
who died March 30th 1921
aged 74 years.
Also Frederick James
third son of the above
Chief Officer S.S. War Knight
who was lost in the English
Channel while serving his
County March 24th 1918,
aged 38 years.
Also the above Mary Ann,
died May 17th 1924, aged 74 years.

Rev. D. Youngson has submitted the following:

424 Borough Lodge
Year of Warrant 1834
Masonic Hall, Half Moon Lane, Gateshead
This Lodge surrendered its Warrant in December 2007

Frederick James Brewis was born in Gateshead, United Kingdom in 1880. Supposed burnt to death after the SS "War Knight" collided with the tanker "OB Jennings" while part of a merchant convoy bringing goods from the United States. Civilian war death

No Service records have been found

A Master Mariner he was Initiated on the 8th June 1916 age given as 35 and there is no further record of any advancement. The Lodge Records state that he was “Drowned at sea March 1918” but no war casualty records have been found.

SS War Knight, built by the Union Iron Works Co., Alameda, California in 1917 and owned at the time of her loss by The Shipping Controller (Furness, Withy & Co. Ltd.), London, was a British steamer of 7951 tons.

On March 20th, 1918, the British cargo SS WAR KNIGHT, collided with US steamer O. B. JENNINGS. Both carrying inflammable goods, were soon on fire. WAR KNIGHT was beached and refloated, but while she was towed, she hit a German mine.

Dave Wendes has submitted the following:

He was the 1st Officer on the SS War Knight when she was on voyage from the USA for London. The ship was part of a large convoy steaming off the Isle of Wight on 24 March 1918. Due to enemy activity the convoy was ordered to alter course. Half an hour later, it was again ordered to alter course. Not all ships received or responded to the signals. As a result a collision occurred between the War Knight and an American oil tanker, the SS O B Jennings. The impact ruptured the tanks on the American ship and highly flammable naptha poured down the length of the War Knight and then ignited. Frederick Brewis and 34 other men were burned to death. There were only 8 survivors. The burning ship was taken in tow across a newly sown minefield which further damaged it. It was sunk by gunfire by our own forces close to the Isle of Wight.

Frederick was the son of Robert William Brewis and Mary Ann Brewis nee Thompson, and the husband of Mary Brewis nee Mitchell.

These men (apart from 3 Royal Naval personnel) are not formally commemorated. The reason is that according to the rules stipulated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the men did not die directly as a result of enemy action. This seems harsh. I am currently making efforts to have a memorial erected above the wreck site in time for the 100th anniversary of the disaster.

If a photograph of Frederick is discovered I’d love to have a copy for my records.

Frederick James Brewis is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004, Page 7, he is also on G39.029 and on our List of Ships’ crews

Forgottenwrecks maritimearchaeology trust.org
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The Wreck of S.S. War Knight