Gordon Joures 1935
William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Gordon was born at South Shields in 1901. He was the youngest child of Septimus and Alice Ellen (nee Jefferson) who lived a 11 Beaconsfield Street South Shields.
The couple had married in 1890 and together they had other children namely Frederick, Cecil and Gladys. Father had a successful business being a hosiery and manufacturing trader as well as being a draper. He was an employer.
By 1911 the family had moved to a more substantial house at Brisbane House, Cleadon. Gordon being the youngest was the only child still living at home and so at school. The household was well off enough to employ 2 servants.
Gordon appears to have chosen a life at sea as his career as on 21 February 1927 Gordon received his ‘Certificate of Competency’ and became master of a vessel. He was a Master Mariner.
On 19th January 1935 Gordon married his sweetheart, Hilda Percival, at Cardff. On 21 August 1937 the couple had their only child, a girl named Claire.
The SS White Crest (Newcastle upon Tyne) was completed in 1928. It was a steam merchant.
War was looming when Gordon was given command of the White Crest. On one occasion the ship was attacked off Cape Wrath by enemy aircraft and E-boat sustaining severe damage from bombs and guns but was not lost.
Unfortunately, by 1942 the White Crest was not so lucky with another encounter this time by U-boats U-162.
The White Crest was at Cardiff on 14 January 1942. She sailed on 12 February with a cargo of coal and coke for Buenos Aires. She proceeded to Belfast Lough on 15 February then onwards on her voyage to South America.
At 8.35 hours on 24 February 1942 the un-escorted White Crest, a straggler from convoy ONS-67 due to a heavy gale on 19 February, was hit by 2 torpedoes and sank capsizing after only 8 minutes 8 miles south east of St John’s. The ship had been spotted at 2.30 hours and missed with 2 torpedoes at 4.45 hours. She was sunk by U-boat U-162 (Kapitan Jurgen Wattenberg).
The entire crew of 47 men was lost - the master, 40 crew members and 6 gunners.
Records show the ship was missing and presumed sunk by enemy action. She was considered a war loss on 29 April 1942.
After the tragedy Gordon’s wife, Hilda and daughter moved to Hale in the Manchester area to live with Hilda’s sister.
Kapitan Jurgen Wattenberg, master of U-boat 162, was considered one of the top U-boat aces having sunk 14 vessels. However, his boat was sunk on its third patrol in September 1942 by 3 British destroyers near the Bahamas, only 7 months after the sinking the White Crest. He had a very successful and eventful navy career but eventually was captured becoming a prisoner of war. After discharge from the German Navy Jurgen became manager of a brewery. He died at the age of 94 years.
Additional info from “British Vessels lost at Sea 1839-1945 a book held at South Shields Library and Army and War Records online.
Gordon Joures is remembered at Newcastle on NUT231
