Memorial Details

Plaque Stephenson Clarke 1914-18 St. Hilda

S86.005

SOUTH SHIELDS

NZ 361670

Stephenson Clarke & Co. (London & Newcastle). Collingwood Street.

Church of St. Hilda with St. Thomas, Market Place / St. Hilda’s Lane.

1914-18

Unveiled 18th November 1923 by Col. Stephenson R. Clarke, Chairman of the Company.

Two plaques.
The upper one is set in a stone frame with fluted design. At top the badge of the company is carved in half relief. The names are incised in two columns, below the names of the ships on which they served.
The lower plaque bears the dedication. In both cases, the lettering is incised in Roman capitals and painted gold, with the letter "V" being used in place of "U".

Black and white marble

This tablet is here placed to the glory of God and in remembrance / of those Officers and men who gave their lives in the service of / their Country while at sea in the steamships of Stephenson / Clarke and Company during the Great War. A.D. 1914 - 1919

Stephenson Clarke & Co. (London & Newcastle)

1. S.S. Combe of 2,030 tons was a non-commissioned ammunition ship which was lost on 12th October 1915 on a voyage from UK to Archangel. The cause was not recorded. S.S. Combe was a steel steam sloop of 2030 tons, length 83.88m (275 ft) breadth 11.88m (39 ft) and had a draught of 5.66m (18.6 ft) Owned by Stephenson & Clarke Ltd and registered in London, the shipmaster was a W. Lawrence.
The SS. Combe was chartered by the RFA in 1915 to be used as an ammunition ship. On her last trip she was bound for Archangel from the Mersey, leaving Liverpool on 12/10/15 loaded with ammunition. She lost her escort on the 14/10/15 and was presumed lost. Lloyds posted her as missing with all hands 31/12/15. Her end appears to be a mystery. The SS Combe was built by Wood & Skinner & Co. Ltd., at Newcastle in 1912.

2. S.S. John Miles of 687 tons was hit by a mine on 22nd February 1917 11 miles S.E. from Hartlepool. Ten people died including the Master.

3. S.S. Sofie of 354 tons was sunk by an U-Boat U-101 on 2nd February 1918 in the Bristol Channel. Date is queried as being the 3rd. The record says that 8 people died including the Master, though 9 are named on the memorial.

4. Mercantile Marine Medal to Seaman William Swanson. Originally a Londoner he married and was living at 94 Marlborough Street, South Shields. He was presumed dead on Thursday 14th October 1915 whilst serving aboard SS Combe, aged 57. His medals came up for sale on E-Bay.

Photos: R.W. Gould; C. Sanders; Simon Raine; James Pasby

Shields Daily News 20/11/1923 reports the unveiling ceremony.

Illustrated Chronicle 20/11/1923 reports unveiling.

South Shields Gazette 19/11/1923 reports unveiling.

British Vessels Lost at Sea 1914-18. Patrick Stephens ISBN 0 85059 384 0

U-Boat Net

The late R.W. Gould; C. Sanders; Dorothy Hall; Nora Dunn; James Pasby; Michael Mulhern; Great War Forum

The names on this memorial are being researched by James Pasby Contact: james@newmp.org.uk

 

SOUTH SHIELDS, St. Hilda's Church.

      S.S. "Combe"

   W.C. Bruce         E. Monaghan

   H.A. David         S. Monaghan

   J. Dicker         S. McTaggart

   J. Edmonstone     A.G. Norfolk

   W. Gowing         A. Pinington

   C.L. Jones           R. Provan

   F. Keeley             E. Steel

   W.H. Lawrence       S. Shorter

   W.H.A. Lewis        W. Swanson

   C. Lincoln         F.W. Walker

   T.R. Matthews      R.P. Walker

   F. McDonald         J. Wharton

      S.S. "John Miles"

   A. Atkinson          E. Tester

   T.D. Brazier          G. Vwins

   M. Eggan            T. Vallint

   V. Johnson        H.G. Welfare

   H. Sharman      R.S. Wilkinson

      S.S. "Sofie"

   C. Amesti            D. Mobile

   H.F.B. Andrews     D. Martinez

   H. Francis          O. Stevens

   J.J.B. Harrington     P. Soper

   W. Lippeatt

  This tablet is here placed to the glory of God and in remembrance 

  of those Officers and men who gave their lives in the service of 

  their Country while at sea in the steamships of Stephenson 

  Clarke and Company during the Great War A.D.1914 - 1919 

NameS86.005

Notes for this Parish

Individual stories for this Parish