HMS Viknor

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

George Patterson was the eldest of 5 children, all of whom survived, 4 sons and a daughter, born to Thomas Patterson and Isabella Burke, natives of South Shields, County Durham, born 1866 and 1871 respectively. They were married in their home town during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1889 just prior to the birth of George, October 18th 1889. Whilst she was pregnant with her second child Isabella in 1891 was living with her parents William and Mary Ann Burke and her 7 siblings at 75, Denmark Street, South Shields, Thomas who at the time would have been 24 years of age is not listed in the census but reappears in 1901, his family having grown with the birth of Thomas Jnr, November 2nd 1891, John Alexander 1897 and William in 1900. He supported his family, now living at 6, Alice Street, employed below ground as a coal miner, their youngest child and only daughter Lilian was born in 1902. By 1911 he had changed employment and was working as a fitter’s labourer at the dry docks, George (21) was a labourer at the sawmill, Thomas (19) and John (14) were both employed at the colliery as a putter and belt lad respectively, William (11) and Lilian (9) were scholars. Thomas had also taken into his home consisting of 4 rooms at 164, Palmerston Street, his father George (68) listed as married and employed by the North East Railways as a dock labourer and his brother Charlie (26) a rivet heater at the shipyard.

During the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1911, George Patterson married Sabrae McDonald born, October 2nd 1891 and with whom he had 2 children, Thomas in 1913 and George Jnr, August 31st 1915, who was born 7 months after the death of his father.

Upon the outbreak of war George Patterson enlisted in the Mercantile Marine Reserve, assigned as Fireman aboard H.M.S. Viknor, Originally, built as a passenger liner named Atrato then sold on in 1912 and renamed the Viking she was used for cruising which suited her as speed was not essential. In 1914 the Viking was requisition by the Admiralty, renamed once again as the Viknor and armed as a merchant cruiser, allocated to the Royal Navy, 10th Cruiser Squadron, patrolling between Iceland and Northern Scotland to intercept and inspect neutral shipping for contraband destined for Germany.

The Viktor disappeared in heavy waters, January 13th 1915, without sending a distress call with the loss of her entire crew of 291 men, 1 German prisoner and 6 stowaways. It is suspected that the Viknor may have struck a German mine.

The sacrifice of Fireman George Patterson is recorded as one of the 23,224 names inscribed on the Plymouth Naval Memorial which stand overlooking Plymouth Sound in Devon commemorating those who were lost or buried at sea during the conflicts of WW1 and WW2 where no permanent monument could be raised.

His widow Sabrae re-married in 1917 to ex Army Private Samuel Hunter, native of South Shields, who had served with the Durham Light Infantry and with whom she had a daughter Elizabeth born April 4th 1922. In 1939 they were living at 14, Bythorn Street, South Shields, Samuel was employed as a labourer and daughter Elizabeth worked at the biscuit factory, Sabrae was a housewife. George Patterson born August 31st 1915 was working as a dock labourer, living with his grandparents Thomas Patterson a retired fitter’s labourer, Isabella Patterson, housewife and his uncle Thomas, also a dock yard labourer, at 164, Palmerston Street.

Sabrae Hunter-Patterson nee McDonald died in 1953 aged 63 years, Samuel Hunter aged 80 years in 1964, both deaths registered in the district of South Shields, County Durham.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

James Pasby has submitted the following:-

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 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 Patterson is not remembered in South Shields.

He is remembered in our List of ships’ crew.

H.M.S. Viknor Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for Fireman Patterson