Memorial

Plaque Protector 1914-18 St. Stephen

South Shields

Memorial Name: Plaque Protector 1914-18 St. Stephen (S86.030)

NEWMP Ref No.: S86.030

Parish: South Shields

Original Location:

Stephen’s Church of the Lawe, Mile End Road, South Shields. NE33 2AE. NZ 36179 67831

On west wall.

Present Location:

Now St. Aidan’s Church and St. Stephen’s Church of the Lawe

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 9th April 1924 by Capt. S.K. Sargent, Chairman of the Tyne Pilotage Authority.

Dedicated by the Rector.

Materials Used:

Brass on an oak now painted frame

Who Commissioned:

Tyne Pilotage Authority

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Dennis Bros., South Shields.

Ownership and Maintenance: St. Aidan's Church and St. Stephen's Church of the Lawe

Inscription:

To the glory of God and in memory of the
Pilots, Pilots’ Assistants and Crew of the
Tyne Pilot Cutter “Protector”,
who died in the service of their country
when their vessel was destroyed by enemy action
off the mouth of the Tyne
on the 31st of December 1916.
(Names)
Also in memory of the Pilots’ Assistants
( names)
who lost their lives at sea through enemy action.

This tablet is erected by the Tyne Pilotage Authority

Memorial Description:

Plaque 37.5 inches high x 24 inches wide (951mm x 607mm) set in a narrow wood frame.

There is a single line border.

A picture of the vessel has been etched at centre top.

The names are listed in two columns according to class.

All lettering is in elongated Roman upper and lower case.

Names:

20 names and ranks from the Protector,
plus 2 Pilots’ Assistants who died at sea.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. See also S86.062.

2. The Protector was a pilot cutter of 200 tons which was struck by a mine.

3. “The Protector was blown up within sight of land on New Year’s Eve, every life on board being lost. The event caused a painful sensation in South Shields, where the men lived, but particulars were not published in the newspapers owing to the censorship.”

4. The memorial plaque is uniform in size and design with another which had been erected by Tyne Lifeboat Institution in honour of those who died in the wreck of the lifeboat Providence in 1849.

5. The South Shields Gazette 14/06/1932 reports:
Doubt removed by new find: Wheel stand bearing the name Protector.
The finding of a wheel stand bearing the name Protector on a wreck located by Mr. Thomas Keedy, the South Shields diver, about a mile off the South Pier at the mouth of the Tyne, has definitely established that the wreckage is that of the ill-fated pilot cutter that was blown up with all hands sixteen years ago. Mr. Keedy found the wreckage last Wednesday, but some doubts were expressed as to whether it was that of the Protector. The wheel stand, to which Mr. Keedy attached a wire hawser, and which has been brought up by another diver, definitely removes all doubts, however. The wreck will be blown up by the Tyne Improvement Commissioners in a day or two.

6. A piece of the Protector Radio is in private hands, {believed to held by a relative of one of the Pilots killed}, had been washed up. Seen in 2012. Has been marked ‘In Memorium’. Son: Ralph Phillips (a pilot) of 14 East George Street, North Shields (aged 53 in March 1917). It was his son who found and recovered his father’s body washed ashore from the North Sea.

7. A photograph of the crew from the Protector is also shown.

Sources:

Photos: Simon Raine

Northern Echo
10/04/1924 reports unveiling by Capt. “Sergent”.

Shields Daily News
10/04/1924 reports unveiling ceremony.

South Shields Gazette
14/06/1932 reports finding of wreckage in Note 5 above.

British Vessels Lost at Sea 1914-18 first published by HMSO in 1919, Republished by Patrick Stephens 1979. ISBN 0 85059 384 0

The Monumental Brasses of County Durham William Lack, H. Martin Stuchfield and Philip Whittemore 2002 ISBN 095 4327101