George Smith Elliott
George Smith Elliott 2nd Left Middle Row
Medal Card
At the age of one, he was still living at 132 Cornwallis Square, South Shields and by the age of eleven in 1861, the family were residing at 2 Railway Terrace, South Shields. His brother, John R. Elliott was born 18th February 1863 at 1 South Terrace, Heugh Street in South Shields.
On 5th January 1865, his father, Captain John Elliott, drowned in Regent’s Canal, London and his death was registered the following day (6th) at Ratcliff, Middlesex. The cause of death was violent drowning. He had been Master of the South Shields brig ‘Dawn’ and was aged 45 years at time of death. [John Elliott 1819-1865].
A few months after his father’s death, George became an apprentice indentured into the UK Merchant Navy on the 19th May 1865, [aged 14], at South Shields.
On the 26th August 1874 George married Maria Jane Scott, [born May 1853, died 28th January 1896], at St Mary's Church, South Shields.
In February 1875, his mother, Ann Smith Elliott died, [1822-1875], at her home in 9 Ivy Street, South Shields. The following year, George and Maria’s first child, Mary Elizabeth Elliott was born 1876; followed by the birth of their first son, George Smith Elliott in 1879, who died in February 1882, both were born at 15 Havelock Street, South Shields.
They went on to have a further five children, Anne Elliott born 1881, died 1954; George Robert Elliott born 1884, died 1965; Emma Pinkney Elliott born 1886, died 1929; Kate Pooley Elliott born 1889, died 1891; and John Kemp Large Elliott born 1895, died in 1918.
The year after giving birth to their last child George's wife sadly passed away 26th January 1896 at 120 Marlborough Street, South Shields.
George’s occupation in May 1879 was Second Mate, residing at 15 Princess Street, South Shields. On the 6th March 1885, First Mate certificate now residing at 95 George Potts Street. By 4th March 1887, he had gained his Masters certificate and the family were now residing at 17 Cambridge Street, South Shields; a further move in 1891, moved the family to 50 Adelaide Street.
George Smith Elliott was Captain of the steamer, "SS Robert Ingham" on the morning of the 8th October 1902, when it was in the English Channel about five miles off Beachy Head heading for Newcastle. The conditions were foggy at 07:30, the ship travelling at only 3 knots, when the master (George) heard the loud blast of a foghorn.
He sounded his siren and cut his engines, but seconds later a large liner broke through the fog and rammed his ship. The liner, Norddeutscher Lloyd's Kronprinz Wilhelm, cut through the starboard quarter carrying it away.Capt. Elliott ordered the boats to be lowered, and amazingly this was accomplished, which was probably the only reason the thirteen men who survived were picked up. As she went down her boilers exploded tearing the ship open and less than five minutes after the collision the steamer slipped under the sea. The Chief Officer was found floating in the water and he was pulled into a boat, but sadly he was dead. He along with the only passenger on the ship were the only two casualties. Both has been sleeping at the time of the collision, but only the Chief made it to the deck.
The collision had not killed him, but when he made it to the deck he was washed overboard and drowned before he could be rescued. The survivors were taken aboard the big German liner and while en route to Southampton the passengers took up a collection for the widow of the dead crewman raising $250. Blame for the accident was placed on the master of the German ship for sailing at full speed (22 knots) when conditions should have required prudence.
Source : Keane (Sussex) Michael 28/05/2014 (see press cuttings etc).
After the collision George became a Master of Foreign Going Ships, and resided at 189 South Eldon Street, South Shields. He became a Freemason, initiated 11th January 1904, of the Lord Barnard Lodge in South Shields. First Payment Year on Register: 1904; Year range: 1887-1909; Profession, Master Mariner; Lodge: Lord Barnard Lodge in South Shields. At the time of his initiation he was living at 28 Dean Road in South Shields.
In 1904, he worked at G. T. Grey, Marine Engines. On the 14th March 1906, at St Augustin Parish Church, North Shields, George married Annie Crome (nee Cheeseman) [1856-1942].
Between 1915 and 1916 George was residing at 21 West Park Road, South Shields but by the death of his youngest son in 1918, his residence was 35 Oxford Avenue, South Shields.
George died of heart failure aged 79 years, on 27th November 1929, at Rockwood Hills, Greenside, Ryton and his wife Annie’s son-in-law William Youart of 26 Eldon Street, South Shields registered his death.
Research : Cynthia Kent/James Pasby
