Tower Hill Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Adam Devine was born at Hebburn, County Durham in 1880 one of 6 known children, 2 sons and 4 daughters, his father born 1833 at Westland Row, Dublin, Ireland married Sarah McLennan native of Whitehaven, Cumberland born 1844, in the district of Gateshead in 1864. William was employed as a brick maker in 1871, at Bede Brick Works, he and his wife were living at 5 Wesley Terrace, Hebburn.
Tuesday February 4th 1890 it was reported in the Shields Gazette that William was summoned by the Magistrates Court, where his wife appeared and requested maintenance from her husband for their son Adam who had been committed to the Chadwick Memorial Industrial School, on Grandstand Road, Town Moor, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, October 21st 1890. He was ordered to pay 2 shillings a week as he was in receipt of over 1 pound a week wages from the brick works. The wording of the article implies that William and Sarah may have been separated. The Chadwick School was certified to accommodate 200 boys aged 7-16 years who had been committed by the magistrates to a period of detention and where they were taught a skill, such as, tailoring, shoe making, joinery, woodchopping, agricultural work and gardening. How long Adam was institutionalised is unknown. After the death of his father in the district of Darlington in 1895 his mother was living at 71, Dunston Street, Hebburn. Adam joined the Merchant Navy in 1900 at South Shields and was based in Liverpool aboard the “Canadian” as a Trimmer. He was promoted to Fireman at a rate of 4 pounds 10 shillings a week, November 20th 1900 but discharged at Liverpool as he and his brother John worked at the colliery at Hebburn in 1901, both his sisters Sarah and Ellen were employed as domestic servants.
Whether through choice or because of the outbreak of war Adam returned to sea as a Trimmer aboard the SS Cheviot Range, a seamer built by Irvine’s SB & DD Co., Limited, West Hartlepool. The ship was sunk by U-Boat 102’s (Curt Beitzen) gunnery and torpedoes, February 21st 1918 with the loss of 27 of her crew, at 00:45am, 25 miles south of the Lizard.
Trimmer Adam Devine SS Cheviot Range was 38 years old and single. His sacrifice is recorded at Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London which commemorates men and women who served in the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets during both World Wars and who have no known grave. Recipient of the Mercantile Marine Medal.
The death of Sarah Devine nee McLennan preceded that of her son, she died aged 66 years in 1910, death registered in the district of Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace
Adam Devine is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and at Felling on F32.06 and on our List of Ships’ crews
