On Tower Hill Memorial is the name of Third Engineer Ralph Scott, serving on S.S. Shipcote (Newcastle) with the Mercantile Marine who died 13/11/1915.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Ralph Scott was the eldest of 2 surviving children, 1 deceased gender unknown.
His father George Scott was born in the Northumbrian village of Warenford, December 18th 1855, his mother Sarah Simpson in Newcastle upon Tyne, July 6th 1860 where she and George were married at St. Andrew’s Church, December 25th 1884.
After their marriage they settled at Prince Arthur Street, Middlesbrough, historically in Yorkshire where Ralph was born September 4th 1884 and baptised November 8th at All Saints, Middlesbrough. Herbert was born February 23rd 1891 at 15, Lune Street, Middlesbrough. George Scott supported his family employed as a blacksmith/shoeing smith.
Ten years later they had moved to 79, Store Street in the parish of Westgate, Newcastle upon Tyne. George Scott was now a horse shoeing smith for his own account while Ralph (15) was his apprentice, and Herbert (10) a scholar.
In 1911 George, listed as a blacksmith/employer, and Sarah were living alone in 4 rooms at 10, Greystoke Avenue in the leafy suburb of Jesmond, Newcastle. Ralph (26) had returned to Middlesbrough where he was employed at the ironworks as a blacksmith and living as a boarder in the home of Henry Bulmer and his wife Maria. Henry Bulmer was also employed by the ironworks as a blast furnace bricklayer.
March 27th 1911 the eve of the census Herbert Scott (20) who was employed as a shipping company agent was at Garston Dock, Liverpool, one of 5 passengers on board the foreign trade steam ship “Donata” (Bilbao Spain). The others on board were the Master’s wife and baby son, the Mate’s wife and the Steward’s wife. It was commonplace for senior members of the crew to take their families with them on voyages.
As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany which was declared August 4th 1914. In answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and the order that all regiments raise new battalions, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country.
Marine engineer Ralph Scott was still in England in 1915 living at 10, Greystoke Avenue. His future wife Laura Jessie Payne (27) was born April 26th 1887in Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon, where she was baptised, July 6th 1887. Laura Jessie was the daughter of ex-Corporal, Royal Marines, HMS Britannia and in civilian life, bank manager, Solomon Payne and Harriett Wilding.
Ralph and Laura Jessie were married at the Parish Church of St. Michael, Gloucester, March 17th 1915. Witnesses Herbert Scott and Rebecca Payne.
Having joined the Mercantile Marine prior to serving as a member of the crew of S.S. Shipcote (Newcastle) as 3rd Engineer he had previously served aboard the Fernandina, built on the River Tyne she was a cargo ship.
The S.S. Shipcote departed from Archangel in Russia in mid-November but never arrived at her destination. It is believed the ship went missing around November 26th 1915. The loss the ship and its entire crew remans a mystery as to the cause. It is unclear if it was due to enemy action, a storm or ice conditions. There is no confirmed location or details of the ship’s demise.
His widow Laura at the time of his demise was living at 5, Wellington Street, Gloucester. It was not until official investigations as regards the disappearance of the S.S. Shipcote ended, circa August 2nd 1916, that Ralph’s demise was officially accepted along with that of the entire crew.
3rd Engineer Ralph Scott is deemed to have drowned. The date adopted by the C.W.G.C. for all those on board the S.S. Shipcote (Newcastle) is November 13th 1915. He was 30 years of age. Awards: Mercantile Marine Medal and British War Medal.
The name of 3rd Engineer Ralph Scott and the entire crew of the S.S. Shipcote are recorded on The Tower Hill Memorial which stands on the south side of the garden of Trinity Square, London commemorating men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars who have no known grave other than the sea or where no permanent memorial could be raised.
His widow received all monies due to her late husband, his awards of the Mercantile Marine Medal and British War Medal and awarded a pension sent to her at 5, Wellington Street, Gloucester.
Ralph and Laura Jessie’s marriage was childless. The war years brought not only the loss of her husband but also that of her parents. Harriet Payne nee Wilding died in 1916, Solomon Payne in 1919.
Laura Jessie Scott remarried in Gloucester in 1921 to Charles Gowan, a local man who was born June 21st 1891 and with whom she had a daughter Margaret Laura, July 19th 1921 while they were living at Park Villa, 90, Regent Street which was still their home address in 1939. Charles supported his family employed as a night stoker helped by Margaret Laura (18) working as a wholesale provisions clerk.
Laura Jessie Gowan-Scott nee Payne (76) died in the City of Gloucester in 1965 , Charles Gowan (78) in 1968, their daughter Margaret Laura Gowan (89) died at Tewkesbury Hospital, Gloucestershire, September 11th 2010.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest in Peace.
Ralph Scott is remembered at Jesmond on J1.39 and J1.42 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
