Headstone for 3 HMS Viknor unknown crew

Shields Daily News Tuesday 08/06/1915

Illustrated Chronicle Thursday 28/01/1915

Matthew was born on the 28th August 1881 at 40 East Holborn, and christened at St Hilda’s Church in South Shields on the 6th November 1881. His parents were Catherine Rebecca (nee Holland), age 34, and John Alderson, age 36, who were married in 1864 in Newcastle.

He had five elder brothers, one sister and a younger brother, John Thomas Alderson born 6th November 1864, died in 1943, residing at 21 Keppel Street, South Shields in 1939, James Grafton Alderson born 1866, died 1926, William Alderson, born 1870 died 1949, Peter Alderson born 1876 George Matthew Alderson born 1879 died 1942, Esther Alderson born 1868 and Joseph Alderson born 1890.

Before the birth of Matthew in April 1881 the family were living at East Holborn, South Shields. Matthew's father, John (36) was working as a glass maker, and it is fair to say was the only breadwinner in the family at that time; and their two eldest sons John (16) and James (14) would probably have been in search of work. The younger members of the family Ester (12), William (10) and Peter (4) were at school and the youngest George (2) would have been at home with his mother. John and Catherine would soon have an extra mouth to feed come October.

In 1891 Matthew is at school and living with his parents, two elder brothers and his two younger brothers; and the family are residing at Shepherds Place, Hendersons Lane in South Shields. His father John and brother James were both working as general labourers; Peter was a glassmaker, George is at school and Joseph is only one-year-old.

Matthew’s father John died in 1894, and in 1901 he is living with his widowed mother Catherine, and younger brother Joseph, at 1, Price Street in South Shields. He is working as a shipyard labourer and his mother is also working as a washer woman, Joseph is 11 years-old. They also have a visitor staying with them, John Elstob (age 40), who is working as a dock labourer.

In 1911, Matthew’s mother Catherine is still residing at 1 Price Street but is now the housekeeper to John Elstob (a bricklayer’s labourer), who is now the Head of the household. Her son Joseph is still living there and is working as a dock labourer. Matthew is now living in lodgings at 63 Brunswick Street, South Shields as a lodger and his occupation is that of a shipyard labourer.

His mother Catherine Rebecca passed away in July 1913 in South Shields, Durham, at the age of 66. Then a year later Britain faced the First World War and Matthew was a member of the mercantile crew on-board the HMS Viknor in 1915 when he was 33 years old.

His eldest brother John Thomas Alderson of 5 Barrington Lane, South Shields was notified of the death.

Matthew 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 travelling 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.

Research: Cynthia Kent/James Pasby

Matthew Hollandings Alderson is remembered in South Shields on S86.039 and S86.130 and in our List of Ships crews.

The Merchant History of the Navy in WW1
Official History of Naval Operations Vol II (NEW)
H.M.S. Viknor Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for Fireman Alderson