On Tower Hill Memorial, London is the name of Second Engineer George Higginbotham serving on S.S. Crown Point with the Mercantile Marine who died 06/02/1917.

He was the son of George and Henrietta Higginbotham and the husband of Lilian Viola Higginbotham (nee Barnes), of 8, Richmond Terrace, Felling on Tyne. He was born at Pelaw, County Durham.

In Heworth St Mary Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:-

The family burial place of
George and Henrietta Higginbotham
of Felling

Sacred to the memory of
Annie
the beloved daughter of
Gorge and Henrietta
Higginbotham
who died June 18th 1898
aged 5 years and 3 months

Also Henry son of the above
who was washed overboard
from the ship Foyledale during
a cyclone in Valparaiso Bay
June 2nd 1903 aged 16 years

In the midst of life we are in death

Also George eldest son of
the above who was killed by
enemy torpedo on board the
SS Crown Point on
February 6th 1917 aged 31 years

Anchored within the veil

Also the above
George Higginbotham
Died April 8th 1942
aged 83 years
He served as Captain in the
Merchant Navy for 45 years

also the above
Henrietta
who was called to rest on December 17th 1943
aged 86 years

Ans so shall we ever be with the Lord

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

George Higginbotham Jnr was born at Felling, near Gateshead, historically in County Durham in 1886, one of 5 known children, 3 sons and 2 daughters. He was the eldest son of George Higginbotham Snr born 1861 at Hartlepool, County Durham a master mariner and his wife Henrietta Chambers native of Felling born 1861. They were married August 23rd 1883 at Heworth in the district of Gateshead and lived at Split Crow Lane. George Jnr aged 25 years and living at 8, Richmond Terrace, Felling was a qualified marine engineer in the Mercantile Marine. He was the head of the household, living with him were his 2 sisters, Edith 21, Henrietta 20 and brother Leslie, a scholar aged 14 years.

George Higginbotham married Lilian Viola Barnes born April 30th 1893 native of Nova Scotia, Canada, at Southampton, Hampshire in 1916. He was serving at the time in the Mercantile Marine as Second Engineer aboard SS Crown Point, ship number 110644, Liverpool, of the Strachan Steamship Company. SS Crown Point was a defensively armed British Merchant ship. She was travelling from London to Philadelphia with a cargo of chalk and general merchandise when without warning, February 6th 1917, 55 nautical miles west of the Scilly Isles, she was torpedoed by the German U Boat U 83 commanded by Kapitnleutnant Bruno Hoppe, and sank with the loss of 7 lives including the Master.

Second Engineer George Higginbotham died June 6th 1917, his sacrifice is recorded on the Tower Hill Memorial, south side, Trinity Square Garden, London. The memorial commemorates the men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleet who died in both World Wars and have no known grave. Recipient of the Mercantile Marine War Medal.

His widow resided at 8, Richmond Terrace, Felling on Tyne gave birth to their son George during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1917. Lilian Viola remarried at Southampton in 1922 William Idris Owen, 8 years her junior, born October 9th 1901 at Mountain Ash, Glamorganshire, Wales and with whom she had 3 children George Roland Owen, Evelyn Violette and John.

Lilian and William emigrated, leaving their home at 813, St. Albans Road, Watford, via the port of London, aboard the Iberia ship number 186127, of the P. & O., S. N. Company bound for Sydney, Australia, with final destination listed as New Zealand, September 24th 1957.

Lilian Viola Owen-Higginbotham nee Barnes died aged 80 years, April 19th 1973 and was buried at Mangere Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand, April 21st. William Idris Owen returned to Wales, exact date unknown, where he died April 29th 2004 at Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales, aged 102 years.

Details of children unknown.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

George Higginbotham is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.