In Harton Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of Pilot Charles Allan Bruhn, serving on S.S. Northumbria with the Lighthouse and Pilotage Authorities who died 09/01/1919.

The son of Charles Christian Bruhn and Annie Bruhn, of 5, Village Terrace, Westoe, South Shields and the husband of Kate Bruhn, of Rodney House, 4, Endsleigh Street, Victoria, London.

W. Bro. Revd. David T. Youngson, PPAG Chaplain, Northumberland offers the following:

The information given below in respect of some of the brethren is the best possible conclusions from Lodge records, Grand Lodge records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and data in respect of merchant ship losses during the First World War

1970 Hadrian Lodge
Year of Warrant 1882
Freemasons Hall South Shields

2418 Hedworth Lodge
Year of Warrant 1891
Freemasons Hall Ingram Street South Shields

Charles Alan BRUHN
(Commonwealth War Graves list him as Allan)
Mercantile Marine
Sea Pilot S.S. Northumbria

A Master Mariner, he was Initiated into Hadrian Lodge No 1970, South Shields, Province of Durham on the 7th April 1914; Passed in Hedworth Lodge No 2418, South Shields, Province of Durham on the 27th August 1914 and Raised on the 21st November 1914, becoming a Joining Member of Lodge of Friendship No 100, Great Yarmouth, Province of Norfolk on 10th May 1917.

He died 9th January 1919, aged 40, and was the husband of Kate Bruhn of Rodney House, 4 Endsleigh Street, Victoria, London. He is buried in South Shields (Harton) Cemetery, Grave Reference D.672.

The S.S. Northumbria (4215grt) built in 1906 by the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company Limited, Howdon on Tyne for Westminster Shipping Company Limited (Sir John Jackson), London. She was the second ship of this name to be lost during World War One. She struck a mine off Middlesbrough. What is believed to be the only lifeboat that got clear of the vessel was washed ashore at Newton by the Sea on the Northumberland Coast with two survivors and twelve dead, some of whom are buried in the nearby Embleton Churchyard. It has been suggested that the boat had no row locks hence it drifted so far.

Charles Allan Bruhn is remembered at South Shields on S86.027 and in S86.086, in the Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-18 (London), in the Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-18 Rev. Youngson Part 2 and  Part 3 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.