On Tower Hill Memorial is the name of First Radio Officer Albert Victor Robson serving on S.S. Empire Gold (London), with the Merchant Navy who died 18/04/1945.
He was the son of John and Anne Robson and the husband of Gladys Robson, of Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Albert Victor Robson, one of 8 children of who only 7 survived, was the second born of 5 brothers and had 3 younger sisters. His father John Robson was born in the district of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1870, his mother Ann Stothert, in 1871 at Heworth, Gateshead, historically in County Durham, where she was baptised at Saint James’ Church, December 27th 1871 and married there, November 3rd 1890.
Their son William Stothert Robson was born in 1891 whilst they were living at 9, Heworth Street, Felling, Gateshead, where John was employed as a colliery horseman. John Edward was born at Felling in 1892 before they transferred to Fatfield, birthplace of Margaret in 1895, Lilian was born at Picktree, Chester le Street in 1896, Miriam at Boldon in 1900 and Albert Victor, July 26th 1901 at Picktree, as his father, having abandoned his employment at the colliery, was now an agricultural labourer and still the only bread-winner. Unfortunately, their daughter Miriam died in 1903 aged 4 years, it was a further 3 years before Ann gave birth to son Arthur in 1906 and then Harold in 1910 listed as having been born at Nova Scotia which was one of 2 pits at Harraton Colliery near Washington, County Durham.
In 1911 only 5 of their children were still living at home, they had also transferred from County Durham to Northumberland, occupying 5 rooms at Emmerson House, Westerhope, near Newcastle upon Tyne. John Robson was now self-employed as a dairyman, William (20) a putter at the colliery, Lilian (14) remained at home with her mother and baby Harold (1) whilst Albert Victor (9) and Arthur (5) were scholars.
Merely a child of 12 years old when war commenced with Germany he would have witnessed his parents anguish at the loss of his brother, Private John Edward Robson Army Service Corps, who died, having served in France, of disease at the Military Hospital, York, November 16th 1918, his body interred at St. John’s Churchyard, Whorlton, Northumberland.
Albert Victor was married in 1924 in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland to Gladys Forster, born December 11th 1901 at Westerhope, Northumberland whose brother Matthew was killed in WW1. Their daughter Myra born in 1928. In 1939 Albert and Gladys shared a property with Glady’s parents Thomas and Ann Jane Forster, at 17, Windsor Crescent, Newburn, Northumberland.
He was to answer the call during WW2 as a member of the Merchant Navy, First Radio Officer aboard the steam tanker S.S. Empire Gold, ship number 164843, owned by Common Brothers Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne. April 18th 1945 at 10.15 hours, U-1107, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Fritz Parduhn, fired three torpedoes at two overlapping ships in a convoy 70 miles west of Brest and reported two hits. Both ships the Cyrus H. McCormick and the S.S. Empire Gold were hit and sank. The master, 37 crew and 5 gunners of the S.S. Empire Gold were lost, amongst them First Radio Officer Robson, believed to have drowned, 4 survivors were picked up by the Gotland and landed at Greenock 3 days later. U-1107 was herself sunk April 30th 1945 by U.S. Liberator aircraft, all hands lost.
The sacrifice of F.R.O. Albert Victor Robson is recorded as one of over 35,800 names inscribed on Tower Hill Memorial, south side of the gardens of Trinity Square, London, commemorating men of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who were lost in the two world wars and have no known grave. He was 43 years of age, awards Service Medal 1939-1945.
His effects in the sum of 340 pounds 10 shillings 2 pence were awarded, Newcastle upon Tyne, August 7th 1945 to his widow Gladys Robson of 17, Windsor Crescent, Westerhope.
Their daughter Myra married George W. Armstrong at Northumberland South, October 1948.
Details as regards the demise of Gladys Robson nee Forster, as yet unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Albert Victor Robson is remembered at Whorlton on W53.02 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
