On the Tower Hill Memorial is the name of Chief Engineer Stephen Robert Blair, serving on S.S. Ilaro (London) with the Mercantile Marine who died 23/10/1915.

The husband of Isabella Blair (nee Gibbon), of 45, Roker Park Road, Sunderland. He was born at Hull.

Rev. David Youngson has submitted the following:

Stephen Robert BLAIR
Mercantile Marine Chief Engineer S.S. llaro

A Chief Engineer, he was Initiated into 2039 Londonderry Lodge, Masonic Hall Sunderland on the 6th March 1911; Passed 6th November 1911 and Raised on the 2nd September 1912. He was the husband of Isabella Blair (Nee Gibbon) of 45 Roker Park Road, Sunderland. He died on the 23rd October 1915 aged 46 and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London

The S.S. Ilaro of London was on a voyage from West Africa to Hull and was mined and sunk 4 miles E from Dungeness with the loss of one life.

Stephen Robert Blair is remembered at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 14 page 31,  in the Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-18 (London), in the Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-18 Rev. Youngson Part 2  and in our List of Ships’ Crews.