Robert Dunn Balmain was born in South Shields 1st August 1886. He was the husband of Isabella Wood nee Waugh, of 6, Fawcett St, South Shields, and they were married in 1906.
In 1901 he resided at 31 Eldon Street, and had moved to 6 Fawcett Street before 1911. He attended what was then South Shields Grammar school and Westoe Secondary School.
The SS Madame Renee was sailing about a mile off the Scarborough coast, when U-Boat UB-30 torpedoed the ship which sank the steamer. Her cargo was copper pyrites and was heading towards the Tyne from London. 10 of the 17 crew were killed, including First Mate, Robert Dunn Balmain, who drowned. He was aged 32.
Robert Dunn Balmain is remembered in Harton on H104.03, in South Shields on S86.020 and in our List of Ships’ crews
S.S. Madame Renee
South Shields Grammar School
The CWGC entry for First Mate Balmain