Rev. David Youngson has submitted the following:
Robert Richard CLARKE
Mercantile Marine
First Mate SS Strathcona
He was the son of the late James Albert and Eliza Clarke and was born at Lowestoft, Suffolk. A Master Mariner residing at Middlesbrough, he was Initiated into 1879 Lord Warkworth lodge, Masonic Hall, Gloucester Terrace, Amble on the 12th April 1911; Passed 12th July 1911 and Raised on the 8th November 1911.
He was the husband of Ada Phoebe Clarke (nee Stone) of 37 Warwick Street, Middlesbrough.
He died on the 13th April 1917 aged 55 and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
The SS Strathcona (1881 grt) owned by the Canada Steamship Company Limited of Montreal built in 1900 was captured by the German submarine U78 one hundred and forty five miles WNW from Ronaldsay, Orkney. The Master, Chief Engineer and 3rd Engineer were taken prisoner. The ship was shelled and sunk with the loss of 9 crew.
He is remembered on our List of Ships’ crews
