Photo: Geordie at War

SS Renfrew

In Gateshead Fell St. John's Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:

In
Loving memory of
our dear father
John Coulson
who passed away April 12th 1916
aged 82 years.
John Coulson
son of the above, killed at sea
owing to enemy action
Feb. 24th 1918, aged 25 years.
Robert their youngest son
died September 1st 1925
aged 26 years.
Arthur their second son
died September 15th 1926
aged 32 years.
Also of Margaret
daughter of the above
who died July 6th 1928
aged 24 years.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

John Coulson was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, All Saints’ Parish, in 1893, the son of John Coulson Snr., native of Haltwhistle, Northumberland born 1832 and Mary Ann Wright born 1864 at South Shields, whom he married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1891. He was the eldest of 4 children, 3 sons and a daughter, by 1901 his mother (38) and father (69), a retired steamship surveyor were living at 13, Bolam Terrace, Heworth, Gateshead, with John (8), Arthur (6) and Robert (1), their sister Margaret was born at Low Fell, in 1902. They had moved to 8, Beaconsfield Crescent, Low Fell, Gateshead, in 1911 John and Arthur were both apprentice engineers, Robert and Margaret, scholars. John Coulson Snr still living at the same address, died, aged 84 years, April 12th 1916 and left the sum of £3426 pounds, 17 shillings and 3 pence to executors Robert Hogg an upholsterer and Howel Victor Wild, electrician.

During WW1 John Coulson Jnr served as 4th Engineer Officer aboard S.S. “Renfrew” a steamship built by W. Doxford & Sons, Ltd., Sunderland in 1907 and owned by Irismere Steam Shipping Co. Ltd. (B. J. Sutherland & Co. Ltd.), Newcastle.

On February 24th, 1918, Renfrew, on a voyage from Bilbao to Barrow with a cargo of iron ore, was sunk by the German submarine U-91 (Alfred von Glasenapp), 8 miles southwest of St Ann's Head, St George's Channel, which connects the Irish Sea to the Celtic Sea, with the loss of 40 of her crew.

Fourth Engineer Officer John Coulson Mercantile Marine died from exposure February 24th 1918, after the sinking of his ship. His sacrifice is commemorated as one of almost 12,000 names of WW1 Mercantile Marine casualties inscribed on Tower Hill Memorial, London. He was 24 years old, awarded the Mercantile Marine Medal. After probate his effects of £910 pounds 15 shillings and 8 pence were assigned, January 25th 1919, to Mary Ann Harkness, his mother, under her new married name.

His brother Arthur, born at Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland in 1895, enlisted at Gateshead prior to WW1, aged 17 years 10 months, February 27th 1911 for a period of 5 years, although serving as an apprentice engineer, at the time, he was unemployed. He was assigned to the Territorial Force as Sapper 466 Durham (Fortress) Royal Engineers, a volunteer force. When the Territorials were mobilised on the outbreak of war in August 1914 the Durham Fortress Engineers took their places at the eastern Coastal Defences, Sapper Coulson was embodied August 8th 1914. At first they were employed on constructing field defences, erecting hutted camps, bomb-proof shelters and dug-outs linking gun positions along the coast. As part of the British Expeditionary Force he was drafted to France September 17th 1915, exact location not known and where he remained until January 4th 1916 when he was released from overseas duty and assigned to munitions work with The Sunnyside Engineer Works, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Sapper 466 Arthur Coulson Royal Engineers engagement was terminated at the 72nd Territorial Force Depot, Jarrow, November 7th 1916 after 5years and 254 days under King’s Regulations 392 (xxi), “period of engagement expired”. Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Arthur Coulson died aged 32 years, September 15th 1926, his brother Robert born at Pelaw in 1899 had preceded him September 1st 1925 aged 26 years, their sister Margaret born 1902 at Low Fell had married at Gateshead to Douglas Brown during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sept) 1925, she died July 6th 1928, aged 26 years. Mary Ann Harkness-Coulson nee Wright died January 26th 1951 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, aged 86 years.

The headstone states John Coulson Snr was 82 years old all other available document entries confirm his age as 84.

The CWGC has listed John Coulson as born at Gateshead, this is refuted by his entry of birth, 1901 and 1911 census.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

John Coulson is remembered at Heworth on H92.03and at Low Fell on L61.02 and all three brothers are listed on L61.03

John Coulson is on our List of Ship's Crews

SS Renfrew
The CWGC entry for Fourth Engineer Officer Coulson