In Freetown (King Tom) Cemetery, Sierra Leone  is the Commonwealth War Grave of Apprentice Edward Briggs Hyde, serving on S.S. Peterton (Newcastle upon Tyne)  with the Merchant Navy who died 16/11/1942.

The Scout Roll of Honour 1939-45 states that he died from exposure when his ship S.S. Peterton was sunk. He had been a member of 5th Whitley Bay Group.

The Shields Daily News 03/07/1943 reports:-
Died after 49 days in open boat
Cullercoats Apprentice Commended
A 15-year-old Cullercoats boy who died a few days after being landed on British territory after enduring great hardships while in an open boat for 49 days—20 days without food and with only rain water to drink—has had his name included in the latest list of Merchant Navy commendations.

He was Edward Briggs Hyde, apprentice, son of Mrs Hyde and the late Mr Victor Hyde, of 69 Eleanor Street, who was making his first trip to sea when the terrible experience befell him.

Of an adventurous disposition, he gave up work on a Northallerton farm to go to sea and left home last August. The following month, the vessel in which he was serving was torpedoed and when no news was heard for some time he was reported missing and believed lost as result of enemy action. Then came the joyful news that he had been rescued and landed, but four days later joy was turned to grief by news that death had taken place.

Mrs Hyde was informed by the owners that her boy had failed to respond to treatment given him. Young Hyde was educated at Cullercoats School. His father died 12 years ago. Mrs Hyde has another son in the R A.F. and two daughters.

Edward Briggs Hyde is remembered at Cullercoats on C68.08 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.