In Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:

R.A.W Gowen
Able SMN RN. P/SSX 31216
HMS Southsea
16th February 1941 Age 20

Robert Alfred William Gowen was the son of Arthur and Hetty A. J. Gowen, of Manor Park, Essex

Brian Pirrie reports:

On 16/02/1941 the minesweeper HMS Southsea hit a mine as she came into Tynemouth following a sweep. It was one o’clock in the afternoon. She settled in shallow water and was eventually beached and used as a breakwater. Declared “Constructive Total Loss” by the Admiralty, the little 825 ton paddle steamer had been a Southern Railway Isle of Wight ferry and had entered service in 1937. Seven crew died.

Robert Alfred William Gowen is remembered in our List of Ships’ Crews.