Notes: 1. “If the stories could be written of the deeds of daring done on merchant ships by engineers during the war it would be thrilling”. Mr. Havelock Wilson.
2. “It is the members’ tribute to those of their members who were victims of the German piracy. There are 120 names on the tablet, and they will carry into generations to come a story of heroism and self-sacrifice worthy of the finest traditions of British seamanship”. Shields Gazette
3. The Mayor, Cllr. A.D. Johnston, who chaired the unveiling ceremony, stated that he and Mr. Havelock Wilson were “retired tough old seadogs”.
4. From a membership of 2,000, 121 men from the South Shields Branch of the Marine Engineers’ Association had died.
5. At the unveiling “Mr. Wilson went on to say that he had supplied the Prime Minister with particulars of hundreds of cases, the circumstances of which were that the vessels had been torpedoed and the men had died at home some time afterwards from shock, or shattered nerves, brought on through exposure and immersion. In his opinion the dependents of these men were entitled to a pension and he would not rest until justice had been done to these people.”
6. Extensive ongoing enquiries have not located this Memorial as of yet.
7. The former The Marine School of South Shields, now The Kirkpatrick pub on Ocean Road. Named after John Simpson Kirkpatrick who’s statue stands outside. The building is Grade II Listed.
8. The Marine Engineers’ Association was established London in 1887.
9. The tower originally carried an observatory which was removed in 1979. The building was cleaned and restored, April 1980. This was the original building built for the Marine School.
