Linda Gowans has submitted the following:-
In 1891 David’s mother Mary Ann was living in Sorley Street with sons Alfred and David, but by 1901 she had moved to 45 Eldon Street, where the census shows Mary A Brown, Wife, born Walker, Northumberland, 1863, with four sons, all born in Sunderland: Alfred 1890, David 1891, John L 1895, and William 1900. David senior is not at home on either of the census nights – it could be that he too was a Naval man.
By 1911, Mary Ann was a widow. Her sons John Leslie, now a clerk, and Stanley, born 1902, were at home with her. Her son David does not appear to be in Sunderland in 1911, and may already be at sea. It has not been possible to trace his service records.
David was killed in action off the Belgian coast when serving as Lieutenant on HM Yacht ‘Sanda’, originally the 300 GRT steamer yacht ‘St Serf’, built by Hawthorns & Co. of Leith, launched in 1905 and completed in 1906. On 26 January 1915 she was hired by the Admiralty as an auxiliary patrol vessel on the Dover Patrol with two 6-pounder guns. On Friday 24th September 1915 she sailed for Zeebrugge in company with a bombardment force in support of an attack by the British Army.
Shooting began at 07.00 on the 25th, and shore batteries started replying at 09.00. ‘Sanda’ was hit near the deckhouse and sunk, probably by an 8-inch shell from German batteries at Blankenberghe, around 09.15.
Thirteen officers and men were lost, including local men Lieutenant David Brown and Sub-Lieutenant Norman Middleton. Survivors were rescued by the drifter Fearless. Among those lost was the oldest naval officer serving at sea, Lieutenant-Commander Henry T. Gartside-Tipping, R.N., who was aged over 70 when he volunteered for war service in August 1914.
Mary Ann Brown continued to live at 45 Eldon Street until her death June 24th 1949 aged 86 years.
David Brown is remembered at Sunderland on S140.009, S140.010, S140.048 part 8 and S140.128
