On Portsmouth Naval Memorial is the name of 285861 Stoker 1st Class Peter Alexander Hassan, serving on (RFR/PO/B/3260). H.M.S. Bulwark with the Royal Navy, who died 26/11/1914.

The son of Bernard and Mary Hassan and the husband of Annie Hassan, of 4, South Terrace, Seaham Harbour, Co. Durham.

Peter was born in Sunderland to Bernard Hassan, a glass blower, and his wife Mary (Maria) ( N.B. There is some confusion over his date of birth. According to the Royal Naval records he was born on 17/03/1878 to Bernard and Mary but Mary died in 1877 and in the 1881 Census Peter’s age is given as 6 giving a date of birth of 1874/1875.)

In the 1881 census Peter was living with his father, two brothers and three sisters at 20, Bottle House Bank, Sunderland. Bernard married Isabella Pearson, a widow, in Easington in 1885 and by 1891 the combined families were living in Seaham Harbour.  Peter was living with his father, stepmother, two stepsisters, one stepbrother, two half sisters and a half brother and was an apprentice in a bottle works.

On  December 27th 1908 Peter married Annie Curtis in Millfield, Sunderland County Durham.

Peter joined the Royal Navy on August 11th 1897 and was described as being 5 feet 3 inches tall with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. When he completed his 12 years Peter joined the Royal Fleet Reserve and returned to Seaham Harbour where he worked as a screen man at a local colliery.

Peter was recalled on August 2nd 1914 and was posted to HMS Bulwark on September 1st 1914. He was lost on November 26th 1914 when the ship was totally destroyed by an internal explosion at Sheerness. His next of kin was given as his wife, Annie living at 4, South Terrace, Seaham Harbour.

Peter Hassan is remembered at Dawdon on D41.02, at Seaham on S117.20 and S117.22 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.