Illustrated Chronicle 26/01/1915

Headstone for 3 HMS Viknor unknown crew

HMS Viknor

Naval Index Card

Illustrated Chronicle 26/01/1915

George Hunter was born at 11 Robinson Terrace, Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, in 1867 to his father, Robert Hunter, born 1823, at 11 Robinson Terrace, Sunderland, a Coal Miner, with Isabella, born 1825, Sunderland. They had five children, Alice, born 1864, George R., born 1867, Mary Jane, born 1843, Isabella, born 1853 and Margaret, born 1860.

George was a labourer for the North Eastern Railway at the Gas Works. Prior to this in 1881, he was a paper maker still residing at 11 Robinson Terrace.

By 1891, George was now living at 32 Woodbine Street, Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland.

George married in October 1888 Ciceley Best, born 5th May 1865, died 1942. They had seven children but one died, Isabella, born January 1892, Cicelia, born 1894, George Robert, born 1897, [all born at Sunderland], Edith May, born 1899, South Shields, Robina, born 17th October 1900, died 1983, South Shields and Margaret, born 1904. [Edith and Robina were born at 157 South Palmerstone Street, South Shields]. The family had moved from Sunderland to South Shields after 1898. And in 1901 were residing at 157 South Palmerstone Street, South Shields.

George Robert the son was an Errand boy for a Grocers in 1911. His family moved again to 131 South Palmerston Street, South Shields by this time.

George 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 1939, George's widow, Cecelia was residing at 557 John Williamson Street at South Shields, with her married daughter Robina, who married Sydney Armstrong, a Coal Miner who was born on the 2nd October 1907. Cecilia was now an invalid and was bed-ridden.

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.

George Hunter is remembered at South Shields on S86.051 and also in our List of ships crew.

Complement list of HMS Viknor crew
Official History of Naval Operations Vol II (NEW)
H.M.S. Viknor
H.M.S. Viknor Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for Greaser Hunter