Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has submitted the following:

Claude Henry Irving was born December Q 1908 in Sunderland, the son of Charles Archibald & Ellen Irving (nee Proctor). His parents were married in the June Q 1906, also in Sunderland. There were two other children from the marriage:
William Proctor – September Q 1906 Sunderland
Margaret Jane – September Q 1909 Sunderland

In 1911 Claude was living with his parents and younger sister Margaret Jane in two rooms at 26 Back South Railway Street in the village of Seaham Harbour, Co. Durham, where his father was employed at a local colliery as a miner. His younger brother William was at 8 Clara Street, New Seaham with his married aunt Isabella McGlen and his mother’s parents William and Margaret Jane Proctor.

Have no information concerning Claude from the 1911 census up to the time he married.

Claude married Grace W. Donachy in the March Q 1938 in Sunderland. Grace, whose birth was registered in the December Q 1905 in Sunderland, was the daughter of John William & Anne Donachy. GRO birth records spell the surname as Donneky.

Claude and Grace only had one child Grace who was born March Q 1939 in Sunderland. By September 1939 the family was residing at 13 Sunderland Road, Sunderland and Claude was employed in a local coal mine as a Putter. This was hard and dangerous work which involved dragging or pulling carts/wagons loaded with coal from the mine to the surface.

It was not known when Claude joined the Merchant Navy. He served as a Fireman and Trimmer on board the S.S. Queensbury, a British steam cargo ship weighing 3,911 tons. She was built in 1931 at the Burntisland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. Scotland and owned by Houldon Brothers and Co. Ltd. London.

On the 6th June 1941, just off the north east coast of Scotland, the vessel was attacked by enemy fighter planes resulting in the deaths of 11 of the crew, one of which was Claude. After she was bombed she turned turtle but remained afloat. After the remaining crew were rescued Royal Navy gunfire sunk her as she was a hazard to shipping.

Claude’s body was returned home from the Cameron Hospital in Methil, Fife and he was laid to rest on the 11th June 1941 in Section V. Grave no. 10249 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place.

After Claude’s death Grace was remarried in the September Q 1942 in Sunderland to Ronald L. Smallwood.

Claude Henry Irving is remembered in Sunderland on S140.159, in Peter Gibson's book and on our List of Ships’ crews

The CWGC entry for Fireman Irving