Mrs. Mary Slaughter

The Day Newspaper report

"An inquest was held on Wednesday night at Sunderland on the body of Mary Slaughter, 35, who died from injuries received on the previous night, when Seaham Harbour was shelled by a German submarine. Deceased was the wife of John Slaughter, a blacksmith, living at 107 Victoria Road, Hebburn. She was married in 1906.

Miss Jennie Brown, of New Seaham, a cousin of the deceased, said that on the Tuesday evening she and deceased, who was on a visit at witness’s home, were passing through Seaham Colliery yard when they heard an explosion and saw a bright flash. Witness, in turning round, accidentally stumbled and fell, and on getting up saw her cousin lying on the ground, apparently injured. She called assistance and deceased was removed to the Sunderland Infirmary.

Police Inspector Morgan, of Seaham Harbour, stated that the submarine [UB-39] was well out of the water, and men could be plainly seen moving about her deck. They were 3-inch shells that were fired, and he produced a piece of one which was found near to where Mrs. Slaughter was injured. It bore the name 'Krupp' and was evidently of German make. A British Patrol boat came up, and the submarine made off in a south-westerly direction and was pursued by the patrol boat. Firing was afterwards heard, but witness could not say whether the submarine was hit or not.

The Coroner remarked that the jury would have no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that death resulted from the explosion of a shell fired by a German submarine.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the coroner’s suggestion and added a rider expressing sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.

Another unnamed newspaper reports:

Mr. Arthur Jones, Assistant Preventive Officer of Customs at Seaham Harbour, who is being transferred to Weymouth, saw the submarine bombardment of Seaham Harbour during the war.

Mr. Jones was on duty at the docks one July night, and was standing on the Harbour Master’s Quay, looking seawards when he saw what appeared to be a motor-launch scarcely a quarter of a mile from the entrance.

"There was a sudden flash and a report", he said, "and then I saw it was a submarine. She fired about 30 rounds in quick succession".

The range was high to clear the cliffs, and the shells went flying over the town. Most of them fell in Dawdon Dene and at Seaham Colliery about a mile and a half inland.

Mrs. Mary Slaughter, of Hebburn, was walking at Seaham Colliery when a shell exploded. She was severely wounded, and died next day at Sunderland Infirmary."

Mary Slaughter was buried on the 15th July 1916 in Hebburn Cemetery, Section E, Grave 900.

Information: James Hoy Archives

In the autobiography by Kapitanleutnant Werner Furbringer he claimed he was aiming for the Iron works which he suspected was producing armaments. He died in 1982 aged 93.