In Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent is the Commonwealth War Grave of SS/117718 Stoker 1st Class George Collingwood Robson, serving on H.M.S. Glatton with the Royal Navy who died 16/09/1918.

Brenda Mcmahon has submitted the following :-

George was born at Gateshead 1 May 1899. His parents were George Henry and Elizabeth (nee Hails). His father was an engineer’s (pattern) maker. The couple had 6 sons and 1 daughter. William (baker with Co-op stores), David and Samuel (both coal screeners). Anthony, Mary Ann and Charles.

George joined the Royal Navy in May 1917 serving on H.M.S. Victory, a shore base at Portsmouth. After serving aboard other vessels George transferred to H.M.S. Glatton on 31 August 1918. Unfortunately only a few weeks later he was killed, aged 19 years by an internal explosion of the vessel, H.M.S. Glatton, whilst in Dover Harbour.

The explosion occurred in one of her 6 magazines following a severe fire. However, the devastation would have been much worse if the fire had spread to her main magazines; and also to vessels nearby which were packed with ammunition. If the fire had not been curtailed the town of Dover could have been annihilated.

The crew were buried in a single grave in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent.

Acknowledgments: Barney Rice

George Collingwood Robson is remembered at Low Fell on L61.02, L61.03 and L61.05 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.