On Tower Hill Memorial is the name of First Mate Robert Newlands, serving on S.S. Garthwaite (London) with the Mercantile Marine, who died 13/12/1917.

The son of Janet Newlands, and the late Mr. Newlands and the husband of Mary Anna Newlands (nee Payn), of 92, Marine Approach, South Shields. He was born at South Shields.

W. Bro. Revd. David T. Youngson, PPAG Chaplain, Northumberland offers the following:

The information given below in respect of some of the brethren is the best possible conclusions from Lodge records, Grand Lodge records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and data in respect of merchant ship losses during the First World War

2418 Hedworth Lodge
Year of Warrant 1891
Freemasons Hall Ingram Street South Shields
Robert NEWLANDS
Mercantile Marine First Mate S.S. Garthwaite

He was Initiated on the 7th January 1909; Passed 12th February 1909 there is no record of him being Raised. He died on the 13th December 1917 aged 42,  Remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

The S.S. Garthwaite of London (5690 GRT) owned by Sir W Garthwaite of Glasgow was torpedoed by the German U-Boat UB-22 four miles east from Whitby on a voyage from the Tyne to New York, USA with the loss of fourteen lives.

He is listed on the

Robert Newlands is remembered at South Shields on S86.046 and S86.053,  in the Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-18 (London)  and in our List of Ships’ Crews.