Headstone for 3 HMS Viknor unknown crew
Illustrated Chronicle 26/01/1915
Charles was born on the 1st May 1898, and baptised on 22nd May 1898 at St Hilda’s Church, South Shields to parents, Christopher Scott [born 1858; died 1917] and Mary Jane (nee Miller) [born 1862; died 1908]. The couple were married at St Jude’s Church in South Shields on the 27th May 1896, at the time Christopher was 38, and his wife Mary Jane was 33 years-old.
This was Christopher’s second marriage as his first wife, Charlotte nee Moore, had died in 1891 at the young age of 33.
In 1901, Charles was living at 16 Palmerston Street, South Shields with his mother, father and half-sisters and half-brothers (from his father’s first marriage). His father was working as a Blacksmith; and his eldest son, also named Christopher, was an apprentice joiner; George was an errand boy and their sister Thomasina was a Knitting Machine apprentice.
Charles’ half-brothers and half-sisters were: Christopher [born 1881; died 1956]; Sarah A [born 1883–]; Wilhelmina Etta M [born 1884–]; George William [born 1885–]; Thomasina M [born 1887; died 1958]; John Miller [born 1889; died 1945]; Charlotte [born 1890; died 1965] and Thomas [born 1890; died 1890].
In 1911, Charles is living at 84 Regent Street, South Shields with his father, Christopher, his half-sister, Thomasina; brother-in-law, John Angus Golightly as well as their three children: Christopher (5 years-old), Ethel (3 years-old), and the youngest James (6 months-old. His father is now a widower, and working as a Blacksmith at Stone Quay (Boilerworks); Charles is now 13 years-old and at school; his brother-in-law, John Angus is working as a House Plasterer.
Charles was one of the crew members of the HMS Viknor, part of the (10th Cruiser) Squadron, which sunk with all of its crew on the 13th January 1915 by a mine which had been laid by the vessel Berlin.
His body was never recovered or identified like many of his fellow crew members.
Also on board the Viknor were eight Germans who had been taken prisoner when SS Bergensfjord was captured on January 11th 1915. These included Graf Hans Adam Wedell and Dr. Rasmus Bjornstad. Wedell was a high level German spy traveling from New York to Germany. It is unclear who Bjornstad was or if this was even his real name. The other (unnamed) six Germans were stowaways and suspected to be traveling to Germany to join the war effort.
Source: Maritime Quest with thanks.
The Viknor commenced signing on her mercantile marine crew on the 2nd December. She completed articles on the 22nd and left the Tyne on the evening of the 28th.
Naval History WW1. Official Account.“VIKNOR, armed merchant cruiser, 13 January 1915, Atlantic off N Ireland - ex-Viking or The Viking, ex-cruise ship, 5,386grt, built 1888, Viking Cruise Co, 15kts, hired 19/11/14, Pendant No.M.82, 10th CS Grand Fleet, Cdr Ernest Ballantyne, most northerly ship on Northern Patrol line B north of the Shetlands. On the 11th, at around 62N, 02.24W, intercepted Norwegian SS Bergensfiord carrying an important German secret service agent and other nationals from New York, Viknor ordered to put prize crew on board, escort the Norwegian ship towards Lerwick, then continue on to Liverpool with a total of eight German prisoners. Last message from Viknor on 13th (He – off Malin Head; ss - at 1600 in 56.18N, 09W, course S21ºW), nothing more was heard of her. Probably 13th - Believed sunk off Northern Ireland by one of Berlin's mines broken free by heavy gales off Tory Island (Rn - foundered in heavy weather; C - Wrecked on north coast of Ireland), wreckage and bodies washed ashore at Portrush; 294 lives lost - 22 officers, 196 ratings, 74 MN and 1 canteen staff plus prisoners, no survivors (He – 259, ke - 295) (H/J/Rn/C/D/bi/dk/gf/ke/ss; ADM.137/185, ADM.116/1442)”.
In 2006 the survey ship Celtic Explorer located the wreck of HMS Viknor, according to Dr Ian Lawler, the wreck is located on the outer edge of a minefield laid by SMS Berlin which lends some credibility to the theory that she could have hit a mine, but at this time there is still no definitive answer as to the cause of the loss.
The CWGC entry states that he died on H.M.S. Bayano.
Charles Scott is remembered on our List of Ships’ crew.
Official History of Naval Operations Vol II (NEW)
Complement list of HMS Viknor crew
H.M.S. Viknor
H.M.S. Viknor Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for Assistant Steward Scott