On the Tower Hill Memorial is the name of Chief Engineer George Mewes Helm serving on the SS British Emperor with the Merchant Navy who died 07/05/1941.

The husband of Elizabeth Helm, of Sunderland, Co. Durham.

George Mewse Helm was born on the 25th January 1896, at 26 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland the fourth eldest of 11 children to father John Helm, born 1866, died 5th February 1938, and his wife Mary Ellen nee Mewse, Helm, born 14th February 1869, died 27th October 1952. They were married on the 11th June 1889 at Hendon, Sunderland.

The other children were: –

• Mary Helm, born 1890, died 1916. She married a Henry McKnight born Jarrow,10th March 1899, died 1975, in 1915. In 1911, he was residing at 28 Cleveland Terrace, Southwick on Wear, Durham. [He was the son of a John, born 1852 and Mary Ann McKnight, born 1855, of 28 Crown Road, Southwick, Sunderland in 1921, he was employed by Crawford and Son as a ship joiner, as was his father. Also was a grandson residing at this address Ernest McKnight born 1909]. Henry remarried an Eleanor nee Blakey, born 11th November 1892, in 1921. They had one child a Harry McKnight, born 20th June 1922. In 1939, they were residing at 33 Fordfield Road, Sunderland. Henry was a ships model maker, and the son was a Joiner.
• Eleanor Helm, born 20th August 1891, died 11th January 1988. She married a William Henry Thompson, born 13th April 1891, died 30th January 1960, on the 29th of August 1917. They had 3 children, William Helm Thompson, born 14th June 1918, died 6th September 2008, John Thompson, born 6th May 1920, died 1990 and Arthur Thompson, born 1922, only lived 11 months, died 19th September 1923. In 1921, they were residing at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland, Eleanor was a teacher for the Sunderland Education Committee. In 1939, Eleanor and her husband were residing at 4 North Hylton Road, Sunderland with three children.
• Lilian ‘Lilly’ Helm, born 21st September 1893, died 1st October 1998. In 1921, she was residing at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland and was a confectioner employed by M Finkle, Confectioner at 41 The Green, Southwick. She married a George Wain, born 17th October 1893, baptised 13th December 1893, St Anne, Newton Heath, Manchester, died 5th April 1952, in 1925 at Sunderland. They had two children, John George Wain born 21st August 1928, [who married a Lilian Brocklehurst, born 1928], and a Dorothy M. Wain born 1931. George served and survived WW1. He was working for Armstrong Whitworth as a pattern maker when he enlisted and was residing at 74 Robert Street, Newton Heath, he had been there for about 2 years, as a Territorial on the 20th February 1913. 5 feet seven inches, receiving his medical at Manchester. He was embodied on the 5th August 1914 into the 2nd East Lancashire Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Service number 1132, then 705266. His rank was a Gunner. George was in the 2nd Brigade, with the 210st East Lancashire Brigade [A, B, C, and D Batteries] Howitzers, (they served with the 42nd East Lancashire Division). However, George was demobilised on the 27th April 1915, as he was employed by Messrs Armstrong Whitworth at Manchester. [His civilian job was deemed more important than his military service]. He was discharged from Woolwich Depot, and had spent 4 years 47 days in the Territorial Force as his date of discharge was the 7th April 1917. In 1921, he was residing at his parents’ house, John and Emmie Wain, at 74 Robert Street, Newton Heath, where he was employed by the Mather and Platts Park Works at Manchester along with his brother Frank Wain born 1899. His father worked for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Carriage and Wagon Works Department at Newton Heath. In 1939, Lillian and George are residing at 59 Graver Lane, Manchester, Lancashire.
• Nora Helm, born 3rd March 1898, baptised 27th March 1898 at the Holy Trinity Church Southwick, Sunderland, died 1996. In 1921, she is residing at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland. She travelled to the USA on the 23rd August 1939 from Southampton onboard the RMS Aquitania, ship number 135583, arriving at New York.
• John Helm, born 18th September 1901, died 2nd October 1991 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. John in 1921, was employed at Swan Hunter Wigan Richardson’s Shipbuilders at Southwick, as an apprentice carpenter, and was residing at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland with his brother Edward. He married an Emma nee Simon, born 1908, died 8th July 1974, on the 21st December 1929 at Christ Church Lavender Bay, New South Wales, Australia. And they had 4 children, Rosemary Helm born 1931, John Edward Helm 1933, Alan George Helm born 1943 died 1944 and Barbara Deane Helm, born 1946. In 1930, they are residing at 85 Arthur Street, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. By 1933, 18 Doris Street, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 1935, 9 James Street, Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia. By 1943, 68 Alexander Street, Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia. 1963,18 Harris Street, Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia.
• Edward Helm, born February 1904, baptised 16th March 1904, Holy Trinity Church, Southwick, Sunderland, died 7th July 1976, White Hills, Victoria, Australia. Edward in 1921, was employed at Swan Hunter Wigan Richardson’s Shipbuilders at Southwick, as an apprentice plater, and was residing at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland. Edward emigrated to Australia on the 25th June 1925, onboard he SS Beltana, ship number 131853. He married an Ena Winifred nee Collins, born 1908, died 26th September 1995, in 1939 at Bendigo, Australia. They had three children, Wendy Lorraine Helm, born 1939, died 13th November 1939, Barry Edward Helm, born 1941, died 1st July 1959 and Wendy Eleanor Helm born 1942. In 1928, they are residing at 70 Bridge Street, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, then in 1931, 38 Hopper Street, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. In 1942 they are now at 463 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. In 1954, 133 Wills Street, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
• Stanley Helm, born 20th August 1906, died 24th May 1985. He married an Edith Burnett, born 1912 died 1967, in 1939. In 1921, he is residing at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, and he is an Errand boy for M Finkle, Confectioner at 41 The Green, Southwick. {The same place of work as his sister}. They had two children, Judith Ann Helm, born 1946, Christopher born 1947, In 1939, they were residing at 13 Roxburgh Street, Sunderland. Stanley was a chemical Plumber.
• Florence ‘Florie’ Helm, born 15th June 1909, died 31st July 2007. In 1921, she is residing at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland and was at School. In 1939, she was residing at 26 Mary Street, Southwick Sunderland with her mother. Florence was a schoolteacher employed by the Sunderland Borough Council. She left the UK on the 21st December 1950 for Australia, on the SS Stratheden, ship number 165614, arriving on the 16th January 1951 and to reside at her brother’s [Johns}, address 68 Alexander Street, Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia. She eventually returned to the UK and was residing at 31 Mill View Avenue, Sunderland.
• Marguerite ‘Rita’ Helm, born 15th July 1912, died 1968. In 1921, she was residing at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland but was at school. She married a Stanley Gordon Woodisse, born 26th March 1914, died 12th April 1979, in 1939. The had three children, Michael H Woodisse, born 1942, Alan John Woodisse, born 1944 and Geoffrey G. Woodisse born 1947. Marguerite was enrolled as a Midwife on the 24th November 1934, 22nd June 1934 she is also registered in the General Nursing Council Register. In 1939, they were residing at 9a Craven Parade, Hayes London. Her husband was a Aero Engine Fitter. By 1950. They are at 1 Craven Close, Hayes. She is still registered in the Nursing Registers. Her husband re-married a Susan P. Smith, born 1943, in 1972. [She had been married to a Brian Isherwood on the 10th February 1966 at Belmont Middlesex]. She was the daughter of a Mr and Mrs Smith of Portland Crescent.

One other child died before 1911.

The father John Helm was employed by George Clarke Ltd, a Marine Engine and Boiler builders in their factory at Southwick. In 1921, he was residing with his wife and children at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland. Also residing here was Eleanor’ husband William Henry Thompson, who was employed at the Sir James Laing Company of shipbuilders as a fitter.

George M. Helm was educated at the Gray National School. [The school was originally built in Vine Street in 1822. It grew much larger and eventually moved in 1853 to another site on the Town Moor, when the Vine Street buildings were sold]. In May 1904, George was awarded a third class prize in Standard VI.
George Mewse Helm was residing at 26 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland in 1911, with his parents. George started work as an apprentice on the 11th February 1911 with the George Clarke Company at Southwick.

George Mewse Helm served in WW1. He enlisted on the 8th February 1915. [He had been given a reference supplied by the company, George Clarke Ltd, same as his fathers workplace]. Sent to Egypt on the 13th May 1915, in the 1/4th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment and was allocated the service number 59057. And he was a private.
In August 1914, the Battalion was in Northampton. Part of the East Midlands Brigade in the East Anglian Division. In May 1915, the formation was retitled as 162nd Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division. By July 1915, the battalion embarked at Liverpool and sailed to Gallipoli via Mudros, onboard the HMT Royal George, ship number 125643. Landed at Suvla Bay on the 15th August 1915. 19th December 1915, evacuated from Gallipoli and arrived at Alexandria. Served in Egypt and Palestine thereafter.

He then was transferred to in the Royal Army Medical Corps, [RAMC], with the service number 52675.
George was discharged on the 5th February 1919. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star and the Victory and War Medals. He had been transferred to a Class ‘W’ Reserve on the 30th August 1918. He worked as a journeyman from the 30th August until the 16th April 1919.

His first ship was the SS Schwarzenfels, ship number 143091, signed on the 17th April 1919. He was the 6th Engineer from the 21st April 1920, until the 29th December 1920 at Dublin. He received a glowing recommendation for his conduct onboard from the Chief Engineer.
In 1921, George was residing at 17 Mary Street, Southwick, Sunderland and he was employed by MacVicar Marshall Company Ltd Shipowners, who were based at 13 Castle Street, Liverpool, but was out of work. On the 28th November 1921, he is onboard the Russian Ice Breaker, Sviatogor, until the 28th August 1922 as the 4th Engineer. Again another glowing recommendation. SS Crosshill, ship number 129499, was his next posting as a 4th Engineer from the 24th January 1924 to the 4th May 1924, finishing at Newport. From the 10th September 1924, as a 3rd Engineer till the 3rd October 1924, onboard the SS Sunningdale, ship number 110343, port of Sunderland.

George is now employed by the British Tanker Company, 20th December 1924, he is a 5th Engineer on the tanker SS British Architect, ship number 146680, until the 29th January 1925. Port Abadan in Iran. 28th February 1925 to the 23rd March 1925, 5th Engineer, port Abadan, he is onboard the SS British Sovereign, ship number 140319. 6th May 1925 to 6th March 1926, he is the 4th Engineer onboard the SS British Commerce, ship number 146615, port Abadan. 16th March 1926, to the 23rd April 1926, he is onboard as 5th Engineer on the SS British Chancellor, ship number 146197, port Swansea.

In 1927, George passed his marine engineers’ examination on the 5th March at Liverpool. He married an Elizabeth nee Barlow, born 19th August 1904, died 4th March 1972, [she was the eldest daughter of three children to a Thomas Barlow, born 1868, and his wife Jane Barlow, born 13th April 1867, died 1942], in 1927 at Sunderland. 18th April 1927 to the 12th July 1927, 3rd Engineer Officer onboard the SS British Governor, ship number 149735, port Abadan. 13th July 1927, to the 11th August 1927, George is now the 3rd Engineering Officer, back onboard the SS British Governor, ship number 149735, port Swansea.
12th August 1927, George is now 3rd Engineer officer still onboard the SS British Governor, ship number 149735, to 9th March 1928, port Falmouth. 4th April 1928, he is now a 2nd Engineering officer onboard the ST Kumaki, ship number 143062, until the 21st August 1928. 23rd August 1928, 3rd Engineer officer onboard the SS British Workman, ship number 146550, until the 20th February 1928, port Grangemouth. George always received a testimonial about his time onboard, which was always full of praise.

In 1921, Elizabeth worked as a Drapers Assistant at Binns Department Stores located in Fawcett Street, Sunderland. Her mother was already a widow by then, and they were residing at 37 North Bridge Street, Sunderland.

George Mewse Helm developed a Code for use with his letters to his wife, due to censorship.

George became a free mason in the Amity Lodge nu 3193 Sunderland, and was initiated on the 16th June 1921. George and Elizabeth had a son called George Barlow Helm, born 18th December 1928, died 10th February 2014. He left the Merchant Navy in 1955, having been awarded his Masters Ticket. He married a Zoe Dolores nee Richards, in 1957 at Leeds. Their engagement was announced in the Daily Telegraph on the 11th January 1957. [Zoe was the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs V.J. Richards of Penyran Road, Cardiff].

In 1939, George Barlow Helm is at Bearwood College, at the Merchant Navy school at Aborfield and Newland, near Wokingham, Berkshire. [The school moved to this location in the early 1920s (opening in May 1922) after relocating from Snaresbrook, Essex. It was later renamed Bearwood College in the 1960s and is now operated as Reddam House Berkshire]. George Barlow Helm became a 2nd Officer, he was 5 feet eleven inches, 160lbs. He started in 1945 his service in the Merchant Navy. In 1952, he was the 2nd officer on board the SS Clan Kennedy, ship number 123539. Sailing from Dundee on the 28th April and arriving at New York on the 5th May 1952. George was taken on the 11th April 1952, he was paid off when reaching Dundee.

In 1931, George is at Devonport.

On the 4th August 1936, George Mewse Helm landed at Hull from Port Said from the tanker MV British Honour, ship number 160530, where he was the Engineer aboard. The vessel had departed from Abadan, Iran. He was still working for the British Tanker Company Ltd. [The British Honour was built in 1928 at Palmers shipbuilders on the Tyne. 1953 sold and renamed Marisin M. 1957 renamed Mario Martini. Scrapped in 1961].
George Mewse Helm was a member of the Institute of Marine Engineers from the 1st March 1937.

the British Tanker Company Limited was the maritime transport arm of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, the forerunner of BP. Formed in 1915 with an initial fleet of seven oil tankers, the British Tanker Company became the BP Tanker Company in 1955.

BTC’s first tanker was the 3,663 grt British Emperor, ship number 139156, launched in 1916. She was employed to take oil from Abadan to the ports of Bombay, Karachi, Madras and Calcutta. She was the only BTC vessel not to be chartered by the Admiralty in World War I. Her career eventually ended in 1941, when she was sunk by the Pinguin, after evading all the Pinguin’s attempts to capture her intact.

[Pinguin was a German auxiliary cruiser (Hilfskreuzer) which served as a commerce raider in the Second World War. The Pinguin was known to the Kriegsmarine as Schiff 33, and designated HSK 5. The most successful commerce raider of the war, she was known to the British Royal Navy as Raider F. The name Pinguin means penguin in German].

In 1939, Elizabeth Helm with her husband, who was at sea, were still residing at 37 North Bridge Street, Sunderland. Elizabeth was an A.R.P., in WW2. Also at this address was her mother Jane Barlow, she died 6th December 1942.

George was employed by the British Tanker Company and was employed on tankers during the War. In May 1941 George was serving on board SS British Emperor, ship number 139156, on a voyage with a full cargo of oil from the Persian Gulf to East Africa. On the 7th May 1941 they were intercepted by the German raider Pinguin and after a couple of salvoes from her six-inch guns the cargo was on fire and the crew abandoned ship. Amazingly all 44 crew members survived to become prisoners on board Pinguin.
On the following day, 8th May 1941, it became the Pinguin’s turn to be outgunned when she was intercepted by the eight inch gunned cruiser HMS Cornwall. Following a 27-minute gun duel the Pinguin’s crew were in the process of abandoning ship when an eight-inch shell from the Cornwall detonated the 138 mines stored in number 5 hold and she disappeared in a massive explosion. 341 German sailors died as did 214 of the 238 prisoners on board including all 44 members of the crew of the British Emperor.

Elizabeth Helm moved to Braemer Gardens, Sunderland. Elizabeth Helm, died on the 4th March 1972 at 50 Farrar Lane Leeds.

Interestingly both the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the U.K. Merchant Seaman Deaths 1939 – 1953 record the deaths of the crew of British Emperor as being due to enemy action on May 7th 1941 when in fact they were killed on May 8th 1941 by the fire of HMS Cornwall!

(The CWGC explanation is as follows:
According to all reports I can find on the internet, the S.S. British Emperor was definitely sunk on the 7th May 1941 by the German raider Pinguin. Certainly some of the crew appeared to have survived and were picked up by the raider, although I failed to find clear details of exactly who. The survivors were then tragically killed when the Pinguin was sunk by HMS Cornwall on the 8th May 1941. However, in order for us to amend any of our records for the crew of the S.S. British Emperor we would need to see some official documentation confirming which of the crew were picked by the Pinguin. According to all the Merchant Navy records we have found, all the crew (except 2nd Officer Hunt who died of wounds later) are officially listed as dying on the 7th May 1941).

Sources: The British Newspaper Archive; The National Archives; Colin Boyd; The Merchant Navy Archives; Billy McGee; The Western Front Association; The Long Long Trail; CLIP Database; CWGC; Julia Chapman;

George Mewes Helm is remembered at Southwick on S130.03, at Sunderland in S140.159, page 4 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.