In Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, Sunderland is the Commonwealth War Grave of-
The headstone reads:
O.F.H. Gilbert
Second Engineer Officer
S.S. “Pitwines”
8th November 1940 age 22
Great love
hath no man
than he lay down his life
for his fellow men.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Gilbert and the husband of Ethel Gilbert, of Grindon, Sunderland.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following;
Owen Frederick Herbert Gilbert was the son of Horace Gilbert. He was born, June 3rd 1918 at Quetta in India, (until British India was partitioned in 1947 and now lies in Pakistan). Close to the border with Afghanistan, it was a trade and communication centre between the two countries. Details of his mother are unknown.
Owen returned to England in circa 1925 aged 7 years and was educated at Wellington School, Somerset, a Prep School for ages 3-11 and a Senior School for ages 11-18. At the completion of his education he worked for many years at Vickers-Armstrong’s Limited engineering works.
In 1939 he was employed as a locomotive engineer, living in the home of Louise Erskine and her daughter Ethel at 40, Roker Terrace, Sunderland, a war widow whose husband John Charles Erskine had been killed in 1917.
Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany for the second time in 25 years, September 3rd 1939, soon after during December 1939, Owen and Ethel were married at Sunderland, and he joined the Merchant Navy, serving as Second Engineer Officer aboard the cargo ship S.S. “Pitwines”.
Built for Wandsworth, Wimbledon and Epson District Gas Co., as the S.S. “Wandle” she was launched, December 20th 1922, then sold to Stephenson Clark and renamed in 1932.
S.S. “Pitwines” survived an attack by German bombers, January 11th 1940, when she was bombed and machine gunned, 25 miles SE by E off Flamborough Head off the Yorkshire coast. The ship again survived an attack, off Southend, November 8th 1940, thanks to the bravery of Second Engineer Gilbert. He was helping to beat off the bombers as they dropped their load near the ship, when a small bomb fell on the deck near him. He reacted within a split second and without regard for his own safety, snatched it up and was in the act of throwing it into the sea when it exploded in his hands.
Second Engineer Owen Frederick Herbert Gilbert was fatally wounded and a nearby gunner seriously injured but later admitted to a South-East hospital. He was 22 years old and not only left a widow, resident at 10, Gifford Square, Grindon, Sunderland, but a 5 week old baby, whom he and his wife Ethel had named Lynne.
According to Lloyd’s Shipping List Supplement, “he saved the life of the gunner and prevented serious damage to the ship.” His commendation for brave conduct was listed in the London Gazette, issue, January 3rd 1941. Awarded Lloyd’s War Medal and Merchant Medal.
At the request of his widow, the body of her late husband was transported home to Sunderland where he was laid to rest within Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, November 14th 1940, Ward 3, Sec. A. Grave 1750.
Ethel Gilbert married Samuel Clark at Sunderland in 1945 and with whom she had a son Leigh Clark in 1949.
Ethel Clark-Gilbert nee Erskine died, September 23rd 1993 at Jarrow, Tyne & Wear.
Further details of Owen and Ethel’s daughter Lynne Gilbert are as yet unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Owen Frederick Herbert Gilbert is remembered at Roker on R50.02, at Sunderland in S140.159 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
