On Plymouth Naval Memorial is the name of Engineer Sub-Lieutenant George Littleton Elliott, serving on H.M.S. Laurentic with the Royal Naval Reserve who died 25/01/1917.

In Gateshead East Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:

In affectionate remembrance of
Littleton
dearly beloved husband of
Naomi Wood
who died May 12 1899
aged 63 years.

In the midst of life we are in death

Also of the above
Naomi Wood
who died November 4th 1918
aged 82 years.

Peace, perfect peace.

Sergt. Robert Elliott, 5th N.F.
who gave his life for his country
May 14th 1915 aged 26 years.
Interred in Boulogne

George Littleton Elliott,
Sub. Lieut. Engineer, R.N.
who perished on the Laurentic
January 25th 1917 Aged 30 years.
Sons of the late
George & Ann Elliott
interred opposite.

On a separate plaque below is:

In affectionate remembrance of
Emma
the dearly beloved wife of
Captain Daniel Rowlands,
and youngest daughter of
Littleton and Naomi Wood.
died 18th February 1937, aged 63 years.

Also the above Daniel Rowlands
died 18th Nov. 1952, aged 84 years.

“Thy will be done”.

Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-

Little is known about George. He was born  c1887 & later married Harriett Louise. He does not appear to be a local man although he must have had family in the area as he was remembered on the Wood family headstone in Gateshead East Cemetery. At the time of his death his home was in Liverpool.

In 1914 RMS Laurentic was requisitioned by Admiralty as an armed merchant cruiser. On 25 January 1917 she struck 2 mines at Lough Swilly of the Donegal coast in Ireland. The ship sank within 1 hour at the cost of 350 lives. As well as passengers and personnel the ship was carrying 5 million pounds’ worth of gold ingots, most of which have been recovered. The location of the remaining gold is considered to be too dangerous to attempt recovery.

HMS Laurentic is considered an official war grave.

George Littelton Elliott is remembered at Gateshead on G39.004 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.