Brenda Mcmahon submitted the following :-
Samuel was born in Gateshead in 1893. His parents were Samuel Christopher (died 1900) and Jane Ann (nee Camsey). His siblings were Thomas (assistant steward at sea) James, Jane Ann (tailoress), Maud, Ernest and Septimus Samuel (or Edward Samuel).
His mother had a business as a general grocer.
The 1911 census shows Samuel working as an apprentice fitter.
Samuel joined the Mercantile Marine and was transferred to S.S. Argyll (Newport).
The cargo ship he was serving on was en route from Port Kelah, Algeria to Middlesbrough with a cargo of iron ore. On 13 April 1917 whilst sailing in the Atlantic it was torpedoed and sunk by U Boat 84 (Walter Roehr). The incident occurred near Bishop Rock off the Isle of Scilly. 22 of the crew of the Argyll (including Samuel) were lost.
U Boat 84 began war service on 3 December 1916. During her short career she sunk 28 ships and damaged many more. She herself was sunk by unknown cause off Penmarch, France on approximately 15 January 1918 with all hands lost (40 crew). Samuel was 23 years old.
Samuel Christopher Spedding is remembered at Low Fell on L61.05 and on our List of Ships’ crews
