On Tower Hill Memorial is the name of Fireman and Trimmer John Ronan, serving on S.S. Powhatan (Sunderland) with the Mercantile Marine who died 06/04/1917.
He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ronan and the husband of Margaret Ronan (nee Common), of 5, Grey’s Buildings, Heworth Low Lane, Felling on Tyne, County Durham. He was born at Bill Quay, County Durham.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
John Ronan Jnr was born in 1874 at Bill Quay, Gateshead, County Durham, he was the son of Irish immigrants John Ronan born 1842 and Mary Blake born 1846, both natives of County Wexford. One of 5 known children he was the 3rd born of 4 sons and a daughter. His parents were married October 14th 1864 at the church of St. Patrick, Tagoat, County Wexford, by 1867 they had emigrated to England settling at Heworth, Gateshead, where John’s brother Michael was born followed by James in 1870, Margaret 1873 and William in 1877. John’s father was employed as a chemical labourer whilst they were living at Eldon Place, Felling, in 1881. That same year his brother William Ronan died aged 4 years, his father John Ronan Snr died between 1881 and 1891. In the census of 1891 his widow Mary was still resident at Eldon Place supported by her children, James (21) was employed as a labourer at the copper works, Margaret (18) as a general domestic servant and John Jnr (17) worked for the railway as a plate layer.
John Ronan Jnr married at Gateshead in 1895 Emma McParlin born 1876 at Heworth, Gateshead and with whom he had 4 sons, James 1895, John 1897, Thomas William 1898 and Michael in 1899. After his marriage he moved with his wife and children to 15, Heworth Avenue, Felling where he was now employed as a bricklayer’s labourer. Emma Ronan nee McParlin died in 1903 aged only 27 years, John remarried in 1905 widow Margaret Common nee McManus, ten years his senior, who had 2 daughters of her own, Elizabeth born 1886 and Agnes in 1898, from her previous marriage to Joseph Common in 1884.
In 1911 Margaret was living at Heworth Lane, Woofs Building with her daughters and step-sons James, John and Thomas William, Michael had died in 1902 aged 2 years old. John Ronan is not included in the census, it may well be he was at sea having joined the Merchant Navy. Margaret was supported by step-son James (16) employed at the colliery as a lamp cleaner, her daughters helped with domestic duties at home, John (14) and Thomas William (13) were scholars.
During the conflict of WW1 John Ronan served with the Merchant Navy as Fireman and Trimmer aboard S.S. Powhatan. April 6th 1917. The S.S. Powhatan was torpedoed without warning and sunk 23 miles N. by W. from the remote Atlantic island of North Rona, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, with the loss of 36 lives and the capture of her Master.
Fireman and Trimmer John Ronan was lost, he was 43 years old. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the names inscribed on Tower Hill Memorial, London, commemorating almost 12,000 Mercantile Marine casualties who have no known grave.
His wife Margaret living at 5, Grays Buildings, Heworth High Lane, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, received all monies due to him along with his awards of the Mercantile Marine Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Margaret Ronan-Common nee McManus died at Gateshead in 1924 aged 60 years.
John and Emma Ronan’s son James Ronan also served during WW1 as Private 16643 Durham Light Infantry. He died of wounds, August 14th 1916, interred at Demancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France, grave I. C. 17. He left a widow Mary, whom he had married in 1914, they did not have any children. Recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Ronan is remembered at Felling on F32.06 and F32.24, in the Mercantile Marine Roll of Honour 1917 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
