On Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London is the name of Master John Kinder serving on S.S. Braeside with the Mercantile Marine who died 05/12/1917.

He was the son of Charles and Mary Ann Kinder and the husband of Eleanor Jane Kinder, of 62, Ward Street, Sunderland.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following;

John Kinder was one of 9 children, offspring of Charles Kinder born in 1819 at St. Pancreas, Middlesex and Mary Ann Elizabeth Seaman of Stepney, Middlesex, born in 1843, whom he married in 1860.

Their daughter Louisa was born in Stepney, September 26th 1861, as was Mary Ann Elizabeth, March 3rd 1863, March 4th 1865 Henry was born at Camberwell, also Robert, January 16th 1867, baptised February 27th, Emily 1869 and Arthur in 1871 and baptised May 21st, whilst they were living at 3, Harris Street, which became their permanent home. 

Charles Kinder supported his family employed as a ship’s Master. His wife gave birth to a daughter, April 13th 1873 whom they named Alice, John was born in 1875 and baptised July 4th 1875. Sadly Emily Kinder died in 1876, she was buried in Camberwell Cemetery now known as Camberwell Old Cemetery, Square 7, Grave 4918, Their youngest child  Walter was born, June 3rd 1877.

Charles Kinder died at Camberwell, February 11th 1879 and was buried in Camberwell Cemetery, Square 65, Grave 6215.. Further details of his widow are unknown.

After the death of their parents Louisa and Mary Ann Kinder were both married, but their sister Alice met with a tragic end. In 1891 she was employed as a servant in the home of solicitor’s clerk Lloyd Morgan who was married with a 3 month old child, in 1894 she was still single and pregnant. January 1st 1895 Alice was taken into St. Giles Workhouse, Camberwell. She died in 1896 at Islington, nothing is known of what became of the child. Alice Kinder is also buried in Camberwell Cemetery, Square 10, Grave 15023.

Henry Kinder in 1884 joined the Royal Navy for 10 years, Robert in 1888 for 20 years, Walter moved to Hove where  he was married with children and working for Barrow & Sons House Builders.

John Kinder in 1881 aged 6-years was a scholar at Herne Bay, Kent. Ten years later he was a boatman and the sole crew member of John Reuben, Master of the Water Queen No.616 moored at Kensington Wharf, in the village of Savile Town, Dewsbury.

Between 1891 and 1898 he migrated to the north-east of England settling at Sunderland, historically in County Durham, where he was married in 1898 to Eleanor Jane Hedley who was born at Sunderland, July 22nd 1878. She was the eldest daughter of mariner Thomas Hedley and Ellen Young.

The first of their 4 children, Robert, was born, May 12th 1901, Thomas Hedley 1903. John Jnr, who was born May 12th 1906 tragically died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1908, aged 2-years, At the time Eleanor was pregnant and gave birth to a son during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1909 who was also named John Kinder Jnr.

In 1911 Eleanor and the surviving children were living in 2 rooms nat 62, Ward Street., Eleanor was again pregnant, she gave birth to their only daughter Eleanor, October 21st 1911.

John Kinder in 1911 was at sea, he had obtained July 11th 1902, a Certificate of Competency, Second Mate and February 17th 1906, a Certificate of Competency, Master of a Foreign Going Ship, 037005, by order of the Board of Trade. 

Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany, August 4th 1914. John Kinder in 1917 was Master of the S.S. Braeside. 

Built in 1915 by J. Fullerton & Co., Paisley, she operated for the Wear Steam Shipping Co. Ltd., managed by Rose Bros., Sunderland. 

Requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Stores Carrier, July 8th 1915. Re-deployed August 1915 as a collier, December 5th 1917 she passed the Downs en-route from Blyth to Jersey in the Channel Islands with a cargo of coal. December 6th she was intercepted by the German Submarine UC71, torpedoed and sank 5 miles south of the Owers Light Vessel with the loss of 11 of her crew. 

Master John Kinder was lost with his ship, supposed drowned. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 36,065 names on the Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London, which commemorates men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars and who have no known grave. Master John Kinder was 39 years of age and the recipient of the Mercantile Marine Medal and British War Medal.

In 1921 Eleanor was still living at 62, Ward Street, supported by her son Robert (20) an apprentice engineer and Eleanor (19) assisted with home duties. 

The whereabouts of Thomas Hedley (18) in 1921 has not been found in the census, he may well have been at sea. John Kinder (12) was a pupil at The Boys’ Orphan Asylum, The Moor, Sunderland. Founded in 1853 by funds raised by the Bishop of Durham and Freemen of Sunderland, for the children of seafarers lost or injured at sea. Many of the boys who passed through the school went on to be heroes of both World Wars.

In 1939 Eleanor Kinder was living alone at 62, Ward Street.

Robert Kinder who was married and had a son, died in the service of his County at sea in 1940. 

Thomas Hedley Kinder who was married and had 4 children, died at sea in 1941 serving as a steward on S.S. Homeside. Lloyds War Losses states; Pepel for Middlesborough, sailed Freetown Jan. 8th 1941 and was in lat. 43.52N long. 18.40W, on Jan. 28th at 09.45; wireless report stated vessel leaking and crew taking to boats. Crew of 35 plus 2 gunners; cargo 7,100 tons of iron ore. Posted as missing presumed lost 19th March 1941. Steward Thomas Hedley Kinder is not considered a casualty of war.

John Kinder married Doris Dumville in 1932 who was born, December 26th 1907, and with whom he had a daughter, July 25th 1933. In 1939 mother and daughter were living at 8, Briery Vale Road, Sunderland. John Kinder’s absence indicates he served during WW2 but no record has been found. Further details unknown.

Eleanor Kinder in 1939 was employed as a Kitchen Matron and living at 16, Newstead Grove, Nottingham. Eleanor never married, she died at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, in 1987.

Widow Eleanor Jane Kinder nee Hedley who had joined her daughter in Nottinghamshire, died at Nottingham, aged 62-years, January 26th 1942.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

John Kinder is remembered at Hendon on H123.02, at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 8 page 172 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.