Memorial Details
Memorial
Plaque 'Protector' 1914-18 St. Stephen and St. Aidan
Reference
S86.030
Place
SOUTH SHIELDS
Map ref
NZ 361678
Original Location
St. Stephen's and St Aidan's Church, Mile End Road. On west wall.
Which war
1914-18
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
Unveiled 9th April 1924 by Capt. S.K. Sargent, Chairman of the Tyne Pilotage Authority. Dedicated by the Rector.
Memorial Description
Plaque 607 mm high x 425 mm wide set in a narrow wood frame. There is a single line border. A boat has been etched at centre top. The names are listed in two columns according to class. All lettering is in Roman upper and lower case.
Materials used
Brass in oak frame
Inscription
To the glory of God and in memory of the / Pilots, Pilots' Assistants and Crew of the / Tyne Pilot Cutter "Protector", / who died in the service of their country / when their vessel was destroyed by enemy action / off the mouth of the Tyne / on the 31st of December 1916.
Also in memory of the Pilots' Assistants / ( names) / who lost their lives at sea through enemy action.
This tablet is erected by the Tyne Pilotage Authority
Names
Who commissioned
Tyne Pilotage Authority
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Dennis Bros., South Shields.
Notes
1. See also S86.062
2. The 'Protector' was a pilot cutter of 200 tons which was struck by a mine.
3. “The Protector was blown up within sight of land on New Year’s Eve, every life on board being lost. The event caused a painful sensation in South Shields, where the men lived, but particulars were not published in the newspapers owing to the censorship.”
4. The memorial plaque is uniform in size and design with another which had been erected by Tyne Lifeboat Institution in honour of those who died in the wreck of the lifeboat Providence in 1849.
5. The South Shields Gazette 14/06/1932 reports:
“Doubt removed by new find: Wheel stand bearing the name Protector.
The finding of a wheel stand bearing the name Protector on a wreack located by Mr. Thomas Keedy, the South Shields diver, about a mile off the South Pier at the mouth of the Tyne, has definitely established that the wreckage is that of the ill-fated pilot cutter that was blown up with all hands sixteen years ago. Mr. Keedy found the wreckage last Wednesday, but some doubts were expressed as to whether it was that of the Protector. The wheel stand, to which Mr. Keedy attached a wire hawser, and which has been brought up by another diver, definitely removes all doubts, however. The wreck will be blown up by the Tyne Improvement Commissioners in a day or two.”
2. The 'Protector' was a pilot cutter of 200 tons which was struck by a mine.
3. “The Protector was blown up within sight of land on New Year’s Eve, every life on board being lost. The event caused a painful sensation in South Shields, where the men lived, but particulars were not published in the newspapers owing to the censorship.”
4. The memorial plaque is uniform in size and design with another which had been erected by Tyne Lifeboat Institution in honour of those who died in the wreck of the lifeboat Providence in 1849.
5. The South Shields Gazette 14/06/1932 reports:
“Doubt removed by new find: Wheel stand bearing the name Protector.
The finding of a wheel stand bearing the name Protector on a wreack located by Mr. Thomas Keedy, the South Shields diver, about a mile off the South Pier at the mouth of the Tyne, has definitely established that the wreckage is that of the ill-fated pilot cutter that was blown up with all hands sixteen years ago. Mr. Keedy found the wreckage last Wednesday, but some doubts were expressed as to whether it was that of the Protector. The wheel stand, to which Mr. Keedy attached a wire hawser, and which has been brought up by another diver, definitely removes all doubts, however. The wreck will be blown up by the Tyne Improvement Commissioners in a day or two.”
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Simon Raine
Shields Daily News 10/04/1924 reports unveiling ceremony.
Northern Echo 10/04/1924 reports unveiling by Capt. “Sergent”.
South Shields Gazette
British Vessels Lost at Sea 1914-18 first published by HMSO in 1919, Republished by Patrick Stephens 1979. ISBN 0 85059 384 0
The Monumental Brasses of County Durham William Lack, H. Martin Stuchfield and Philip Whittemore 2002 ISBN 095 4327101
Shields Daily News 10/04/1924 reports unveiling ceremony.
Northern Echo 10/04/1924 reports unveiling by Capt. “Sergent”.
South Shields Gazette
British Vessels Lost at Sea 1914-18 first published by HMSO in 1919, Republished by Patrick Stephens 1979. ISBN 0 85059 384 0
The Monumental Brasses of County Durham William Lack, H. Martin Stuchfield and Philip Whittemore 2002 ISBN 095 4327101
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Research acknowledgements
The late R.W. Gould; Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; Dorothy Hall; Janet Brown; James Pasby; Michael Mulhern
Research In Progress
The names on this memorial are being researched by Peter Hoy.
Contact: peterhoy@hotmail.co.uk
Plaque 'Protector' 1914-18 St. Stephen and St. Aidan (S86.030)
SOUTH SHIELDS, St. Stephen's Church.
To the glory of God and in memory of the
Pilots, Pilots' Assistants and Crew of the
Tyne Pilot Cutter "Protector",
who died in the service of their country
when their vessel was destroyed by enemy action
off the mouth of the Tyne
on the 31st December 1916.
--------------------------
1st Class Pilots
Bone, John Y. Marshall, Thomas H.
Burn, Charles Phillips, Robert
Chambers, Robert Tinmouth, William H.
Heron, Thomas Young, Matthew
Young, William
--------------------------
2nd Class Pilot. Burn, John H.
--------------------------
Pilots' Assistants
Cree, John C. Leslie, William
Leslie, Alexander Phillips, Ralph
--------------------------
Crew
Reed, Thomas Master Nicholson, John W. Steward
Forster, William R. Chief Eng. Rumney, Benjamin, Cabin boy
Macconnachie, James, Firemen
--------------------------
Also in memory of the Pilots' Assistants
Sloane, Septimus, S.S. Phare Young, Hilton, S.S. Spennymoor
who lost their lives at sea through enemy action.
--------------------------
This tablet is erected by the Tyne Pilotage Authority.
-------------------------------------------
Northern Echo has variations on names.
Pilots assistants are named as:
J.C. Cree William Leslie
Leslie Johnston Ralph Phillips
Crew:
James Maconachie instead of Macconnachie
NamesS86.30
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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