In South Shields (Harton) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:

J. Benson
Fireman
S.S. “Bushwood”
16th July 1946, age 41

Treasured still
with love sincere
just a memory
but very dear

A stone at the foot of the headstone reads:

In loving memory of
my dear husband
John Benson
died July 16th, 1946
from his loving
wife & daughter

He was the son of Jack and Ann ‘Annie’ Benson, of South Shields and the husband of Nancy Benson, of South Shields.

John Benson was born on the 13th June 1905, South Shields, one of four children to father John ‘Jack’ Benson snr. born 1879 died 1908, and  his wife Ann [nee Bulmer], died 1966. They were married in 1903.

The other children were: –

• Elizabeth Robson Benson, born 1904, she married George Butchart Nichols, born 14th December 1903, in 1923 in South Shields. in 1939, Elizabeth and George were residing at 57 Eglesfield Road, South Shields, and George was a Motor Driver. George Nichols of 74 Eglesfield Road, South Shields, died aged 58, on 11th April 1958, at Frederick Street, South Shields, and probate was granted on 24th June 1958, to his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth Nichols died, aged 64, in 1968, in South Shields.
• William Benson, born 1908; he died in 1912 in South Shields.
• Stepsister, Ann Christenson, born 1912.

John Benson married Nancy Crumble, born 6th November 1914, [daughter of  Peter Crumble, born 23rd March 1877  and his wife Sarah {nee Brown}, born 2nd November 1877, they were married in 1898],  in 1939, in South Shields.
In 1939, he was residing with his mother, widow Ann Christenson, born 19th September 1882, at 117 Taylor street, South Shields, and he was a Seagoing Fireman. [Weekly article, SS Chatwood, ship number 1125388].

John was 5 feet eight inches, Fair complexion, Blue eyes and Light Brown hair. He started his nautical career as a Cabin Boy on the SS Hounslow, ship number 106997 in 1925. Until 1941, he was onboard as a crew member of over 17 ships.

In 1921, John Benson was residing with his mother, Ann Christenson, at 117, Taylor Street, South Shields. Also at the home was a Elizabeth Benson, born 21st February 1904, and Ann Christenson, born 1912.
In 1921, Nancy was residing with her parents at 40 Dacre Street, South Shields, and her father was a Miner Driller, employed by Harton Coal Company, at St. Hilda Colliery.  At this time, Nancy was the youngest of six children.

John Benson died on the 16th July 1946, of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. He was a Fireman on the SS Bushwood, ship number 161350. He died at home and his death was accepted as attributable to a war risk injury. His last ship was the SS Chatwood, ship number 161249, from the 1st January 1941.

The last entry on his ships records was for the ship Chatwood in 1941. This ship was sunk  after detonating a mine off the Wash in April 1942, sailing from the Tyne to London with a cargo of coal. All crew were saved. It is more than likely possible his death was accepted as attributable to a war risk injury from the sinking, though the Bushwood was the ship the last ship he served on before his actual death in 1946.

Sources: British Newspaper Archive; National Archives; CLIP; Merchant Marine Archivist; Jennifer Stephenson: The James Hoy Archive; Billy McGee;

John Benson is remembered at Westoe in W101.08, page 8, and in our List of Ship’s Crew.