In South Shields (Harton) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave, with a private headstone, of Master Charles Cottew Brown OBE serving on S.S. Sithonia with the Merchant Navy who died 29/08/1946.

This headstone reads:

To the beloved memory of
Charles Cottew Brown O.B.E.
Master Mariner
1879 – 1946

also Beatrice Maud Brown
1884 – 1971

The CWGC commissioned a new headstone in 2005 due to the damage to the original memorial.

This headstone reads:

C.C. Brown. OBE.
Master
S.S. “Sithonia”
29th August 1946 age 66

The son of James Allen Cottew Brown and Mary Brown, of South Shields and the husband of Beatrice Maud Brown, of South Shields.

Charles Cottew Brown was born one of four children on the 19th November 1879, baptised 10th December 1879, at St. Hilda’s Church, South Shields, to father James Allen Cottew Brown, born 1850, died 22nd September 1895 at sea, and his wife Mary Brown nee Purvis born 1852, died 1912. They were married in 1874 at Newcastle upon Tyne.

The other children were: –

• James Allen Cottew Brown jnr, born 1877, baptised 1st January 1878, died 1898. He was awarded his Second Mate certificate on the 25th July 1896, at South Shields. James Allen Cottew Brown died, in Cardiff, Glamorganshire.
• Tom Brown, born 11th November 1886, baptised 5th December 1886, died 3rd March 1951. Tom obtained his Master certificate on the 12th March 1912, at South Shields. Tom Brown married Eliza Inkson Major, born 13th May 1888, in 1913, at South Shields. In 1921, Tom and Eliza Brown were residing, with their daughter, Doreen Brown, born 1919, at 53, Salmon Street, South Shields, and Tom was a Master Mariner. He served in both World Wars receiving medals for his service in the Merchant Navy. Tom Brown, of Rosedale, 289 Mortimer Road, South Shields, died at The Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, and probate was granted on 27th June 1951, at Newcastle upon Tyne to his wife, Eliza Inkson Brown. In 1939, Eliza Inkson Brown was residing with Doreen Brown, and Joan Mary Brown, born 7th June 1922, at 289, Mortimer Road, South Shields. Eliza Inkson Brown, of 136, King George Road, South Shields, died 24th January 1966, and probate was granted at Newcastle upon Tyne, on 10th February 1967, to Joan Mary Ruddick and Doreen Bugge, married women, and her daughters.
• Ada Brown, born 1889, died 1927. She married John Lockey, in 1906, at Sunderland. In 1921, Ada and John Lockey, born 18th July 1873, were residing, with their daughter, Marion Lockey, born 1909, and their niece, Doris Lockey, born 1900, at 278, Banbury Road, Oxford, and John was the owner and an employer at a Motor Garage.  Ada Lockey died at Wandsworth, London. John Lockey died, aged 55, in 1929, in Wandsworth, London.

Charles Cottew Brown’s father, James Allen C. Brown was initiated into the St. Hilda’s Lodge, Freemason Membership Register, South Shields, on 9th February 1885, as a Master Mariner.

James A.C. Brown snr, of 108 Baring Street, South Shields, was Master of the SS Alonso, ship number 60167, and registered in Hull. It was in Valetta Harbour, [Malta}, when he fell ill at 5.30 a.m. on the 21st September 1895, with Delirium Tremens [a severe, life-threatening  form of alcohol withdrawal that causes rapid-onset confusion, shaking, and high autonomic activity. It typically starts 48 to 96 hours after your last drink and requires immediate emergency medical care in a hospital.] James A.C. Brown died, aged 45.

In 1881, Charles Cottew Brown was residing with his mother, Mary Brown, and his older brother, James A.C. Brown jnr, at St. Stephen’s Street, Westoe, South Shields.

In 1891, Charles Cottew Brown was residing with his mother, Mary Brown, two brothers and a sister at 108, Baring Street, Westoe, South Shields.  Also at the home were Jane Purvis, niece, born 1877, and a servant, Mary Youart, born 1867.

Charles Cottew Brown married Beatrice Maud Ramsey, born 9th July 1894, baptised 3rd August 1884, at St Hilda’s Church, South Shields, died 1971, to Robert Ramsey, born 1853, died 1921, and Isabella Ramsey nee Hogg, born 1856, died 1924, in 1906 at South Shields. [Robert and Isabella were married 1st June 1875, in Christ Church, Tynemouth].
Charles Cottew Brown was initiated into the St. Hilda’s Lodge, Freemason Membership Register, South Shields, on the 14th March 1913, as Chief Mate.

By 1921, Charles and Beatrice Brown were residing at 7 Soho Terrace, South Shields, and Charles was a Master Mariner. They had three children: –

• Charles Cottew Brown jnr., born 22nd April 1910, died 1992. On the 1st February 1926, aged 15, he arrived in New York USA, from Singapore and Port Said, on the SS Silveray, ship number 148621, as an Apprentice. On the 11th May 1936, he arrived in San Francisco, Caifornia, on the SS Thistlegarth, ship number 160314, as Second Mate. In Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, Captain Charles Cottew Brown jnr., of Brent House, Sunniside, South Shields, was mentioned in dispatches for outstanding service while serving with the Merchant Navy during the capture of Sicily. 1st March 1947, he arrived at Tacoma, Washington, USA, from Vancouver, British Columbia, on THE SS Thistledale, ship number 169030, as Master. Charles was also a Master at Trinity House at Newcastle upon Tyne from 11th January 1974 until the 5th January 1953. After retiring, he then spent the next two years trading on the Australian Coast on board the SS Thistledale, his old ship. He has been with the Albyn Line of Sunderland, owners of the SS Thistledale, since 1930. Prior to this he was with the Silver Line. 1986 he was elected Pilot Superintendent. In 1989 he became a Deputy Master for the Trinity House Brethren for the year from the 6th January 1989. His father and Uncle also had been Masters of Trinity House. Charles Cottew Brown died, aged 82 in South Shields.
• Marjorie Brown, born 7th September 1913, died 1998. She married Robert Duncan in 1942, at South Shields. Marjorie Duncan died, in Jarrow.
• Edward Cottew Brown, born 1916, died 27th August 1970. On the 18th July 1937, he arrived at Portland and Astoria, Oregon, USA, from Moji and Miike, Japan, on the SS Temple Pier, ship number 160509, as Third Mate. Edward Cottew Brown, of 397, Sunderland Road, South Shields, died on, and probate was granted at Newcastle upon Tyne on 15th October 1970.

In 1924, Charles was residing at 40 Vespasian Avenue, South Shields where he received his WW1 Medals.

5th June 1927, Charles Cottew Brown arrived in San Francisco, California, USA, as Captain, on the SS Silverlarch, ship number 147710. 16th June 1928, Charles Cottew Brown arrived in New York, USA, from Port Said, Egypt, on the SS Silverhazel, ship number 149892, as a Master. On the 2nd May 1929, Charles Cottew Brown departed from South Africa on the SS Llandovery Castle, ship number 148678, arriving in London after having travelled to Natal Algoa Bay, Lourenco Marques, Beira, Port Amelia, Zanzibar, Mombasa, Tanga, Aden, Port Sudan, Port Said, Cape Town, East London, Genoa as a Cadet.

On 1st April 1934, Charles Cottew Brown arrived in Seattle, Washington, USA, on the SS Artemisia, ship number 144904, from Miike, Japan, as Master.

In 1939, Charles and Beatrice Brown were residing, with their daughter, Marjorie, at Brent House, Sunniside Drive, South Shields.

SS Sithonia, ship number 143441, sailed from Belfast on the July 2nd, 1942 bound for Montevideo with a cargo of 8,500 tons of coal and joined Convoy OS.33. On the 9th July, 1942, Sithonia reported that she had detected a submarine on her D/F but although one of the escort destroyers dropped depth charges, no attack developed. Together with the South American portion of the convoy, Sithonia was detached on the 11th July. At 2100, a radio signal was received that the SS Cortona, ship number 144237, was under attack after which the Sithonia adopted evasive action and zigzagging. Later a flash was seen on the horizon, after which, the Sithonia altered course to bring the flash astern before gradually resuming her course two hours later until they were back on course by daylight. At 22.20 on the 12th July, when 380 miles West of Fogo Island (Canaries), she was struck amidships on the port side by two torpedoes from U-201 which broke her back. U-201, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Adalbert Schnee reported the sinking as grid reference DG 9552 (29N, 25W). The survivors took to two lifeboats and were contacted by the submarine who wanted to know the ship’s details. The U-boat also said that they would send out an SOS for them since they had not had time to send one. One lifeboat eventually landed in Las Palmas on the 7th August 1942, having sailed 820 miles in 14 days while the other lifeboat landed in Senegal where the crew were interned. From a crew of 54, which included 3 Naval and 2 Royal Artillery gunners, 7 men lost their lives. This was the last casualty from convoy OS.33.

Charles received the O.B.E., along with a Mr Gordon Murray, of Craiglin Drive, Edinburgh, for “outstanding courage and resource”. The Master took charge of the [life]boat, and after a voyage of 19 days brought it to land, only one of the 23 survivors dying. Captain Brown set a fine example, and it was due to his leadership and skill that the remainder of the occupants were brought to safety. Source: Dundee Courier Wednesday 9th June 1943.

Gordon Murray constructed an apparatus for distilling salt water. He distilled 5 gallons in 14 hours and rations were kept as a fair level. Headlines 22 Owe Lives to Joky Scot. Source: Dundee Courier Wednesday 09/06/1943.

Sources:  James Hoy Archive; British Newspaper Archive;  Merchant Navy Archivist;  National Archive; U Boat net; Jennifer Stephenson;

Charles Cottew Brown is not remembered on a North East War Memorial, but is listed on our List of Ship’s Crew.