The pilot cutter “Protector”

February 27th, 2009 by JCB
Posted in Articles, Coastlines, History | 36 Comments »

Wendy Cummin has kindly granted permission for her research into the loss of the pilot cutter “Protector” to be placed on this website. The photographs have been supplied by retired Harwich pilot, Andy Adams.

The pilot cutter “Protector”

Although not as common as in WW2, there were many civilian deaths in WW1.

People died as a result of Zeppelin raids or naval bombardment; they died from explosions in munitions factories; and they also died serving the war effort in other ways, with the Red Cross, the YMCA, as chaplains, as civilian staff of the Admiralty and as pilots on the river, among others.

River pilots, aboard cutters, were employed to guide ships safely into harbour, and in this capacity they ran the gauntlet of mines laid by the enemy during WW1.

One such was the pilot cutter “Protector”.

“Protector” was built in 1907 by Rennoldson at South Shields on the Tyne.

On New Year’s Eve 1916, “Protector” left the Tyne to escort a vessel inwards; the crew, looking forward to a swift return to celebrate the New Year, never saw 1917.

“Protector” was devastated by a mine in the entrance to the Tyne and was sunk with the loss of all 19 men aboard. The oldest man lost was aged 70 and the youngest was just 16.

All of these men were from Tyneside.

It seems that only one body was recovered: Robert Phillips, Pilot 1^st class, the oldest man on board at the age of 70, is buried in Tynemouth cemetery.

The other men were lost, and are all commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Here they are, in alphabetical order:

John Swinney BONE

John was a Pilot 1^st class, and he was 36 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of Thomas and Ann [Alice?] of 155 Lawson Terrace, South Shields.

In 1901 the family lived in Henry Street. John’s father Thomas was also a pilot, as was his brother Thomas. His brother Robert was a fireman on a tugboat. All the family were born in South Shields.

John is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Charles BURN

Charles was a Pilot 1^st Class, and he was 53 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of Charles and Catherine of 21 The Lawe, South Shields. His father and four brothers all worked on the pilot vessels. All were born in South Shields.

Charles married Margaret Elliott Wright in 1893 and they lived in Roman Road in 1901 with children Catherine, Margaret, Charles, and Lancelot.

The family later lived at 41 Trajan Avenue in South Shields.

Charles is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

John Hart BURN

John was a Pilot 2^nd class, and he was 39 when he died. He was born in North Shields, the son of Ralph and Annie of 13 Walker Place, North Shields.

John was one of at least 9 children, some born in North Shields and some in South Shields.

His father Ralph was also a pilot, born South Shields.

John married Charlotte Louise Garred in 1903 and their last known address is 15 Coburg Terrace, South Shields. A daughter Ellen was born in 1912.

John is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Robert CHAMBERS

Robert was a Pilot 1^st class, and he was 48 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of Robert and Ellen. His father was also a pilot, and in 1881, at the age of 13, young Robert was already a pilot assistant.

Robert married Margaret Ann Bell in 1892 and by 1901 they were living in Baring Street, South Shields with children Robert, Caroline, William and Joseph.

Robert is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

John Cawthorne CREE

John was a pilot assistant, and he was 19 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of John and Elizabeth. His father was also a pilot, born in Jarrow.

In 1901 the family lived at 43 Trajan Avenue in South Shields and John’s last known address was 60 Kensington Road.

John is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

William Robert FORSTER

William was 1^st engineer, and he was 39 when he died. He was born in North Shields, the son of William and Margaret. His father was a publican in Middle Street, North Shields in 1881.

In 1901, William Robert was serving as an engineer aboard the vessel “T.W.Mould” and was unmarried.

He married Edith Annie Downie in 1908 and the last known address of his wife was 115 Howdon Road in North Shields.

William and Edith had three children: Edith, Kenneth, and Sidney.

William Robert Forster is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Thomas HERON

Thomas was a Pilot 1^st class, and he was 42 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of Benjamin and Esther. His father and two brothers were also pilots.

In 1901 the family lived in Edith Street in South Shields and the last known address is 114 Baring Street, South Shields.

Thomas is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Alexander LESLIE

Alexander was a pilot assistant, and he was 21 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the 5^th of 6 children of Alexander and Mary Ellen nee Waugh. His father was also a pilot.

In 1901 the family lived in Pearson Street in South Shields.

His mother died in 1900 and his father re-married to Elizabeth Jane Robson. His father died in 1912. The last known address for Alexander junior is 10 Keppell Street in South Shields.

Alexander is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

William LESLIE

William was a pilot assistant, and he was 19 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of Robert and Mary [probably nee Layden].

In 1901 the family lived at Lawe Cottages and his father Robert was also a pilot.

The last known address for William is 42 Collingwood Terrace in South Shields.

William is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

[Alexander and William Leslie do not seem to be brothers, but they may have been cousins.]

James Matthew MACCONNACHIE

James was a fireman, and he was 36 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of John and Jane Isabella. His father was a coal miner from Scotland, and in 1901 James was also working in the mines, living in Commercial Road in South Shields.

He married Sarah W. Dixon in 1913 and a son James was born in 1914.

Their last known address is 77 Eldon Street, South Shields.

James is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Thomas Haw MARSHALL

Thomas was a Pilot 1^st class, and he was 36 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of John and Elizabeth Ann. His father was also a pilot, and in 1901 the family lived in Baring Street, young Thomas employed as a pilot assistant.

He married Elizabeth Ann Miller in 1902 in Tynemouth and they had a son John born 1912 and a daughter Elizabeth born 1915. There were probably other children born earlier.

His widow Elizabeth Ann re-married in 1921 to Arthur Smith, and her last known address is 45 Fairless Street in South Shields.

Thomas is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

James W. NICHOLSON

James was a steward, and he was 45 when he died. He was born in North Shields, the son of John and Ann. His father John was originally a sail maker, but later worked in a factory, probably due to unemployment.

In 1901, James was also a factory worker living in Union Road in North Shields.

He married Elizabeth Ann Thompson in 1893 and they had a son James and daughters Ann and Isabella.

His last known address is 27 Stormont Street, North Shields.

James is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Robert PHILLIPS

Robert was a Pilot 1^st class, and he was 70 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of Robert and Catherine. This family produced a long line of pilots; Robert senior, born about 1817, was a pilot, as was his brother Ralph.

Robert junior, born about 1846, married Elizabeth Scott in 1867 and they had at least 8 children including John, William, and Ralph who all became pilots.

By 1891, Robert was living in North Shields with Isabella Henderson described as his housekeeper, but there is no wife Elizabeth, and in 1901 he was living in Vespasian Avenue in South Shields with his “wife” Isabella.

No marriage has been found. Several more children were born.

His last known address is 53 Trajan Avenue, South Shields.

As Robert is buried in Tynemouth [Preston] Cemetery, his appears to have been the only body to be recovered.

Sadly his grandson Ralph was with him on the “Protector”.

Ralph PHILLIPS

Ralph was a pilot assistant, and he was 20 when he died. He was born in North Shields, the son of Ralph and Jane, and the grandson of Robert.

His father Ralph was, of course, a pilot.

In 1891, Ralph senior was a pilot apprentice lodging with the family of Sidney Smith in North Shields. He married Jane Ellen Smith in 1893.

The family were living in Walker Place, North Shields in 1901, and Ralph’s last known address is 14 East George Street, North Shields.

Ralph is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Thomas REED

Thomas was the master of the vessel. No age or place of birth is given for Thomas but he was probably born in about 1844 in North Shields.

There is a Thomas Reed, pilot, aged 37 living in Adamson’s Broadway in North Shields in 1881 with a wife Mary and 6 children including Thomas aged 15 [pilot apprentice] and Matthew aged 14.

In 1891 they are at the same address, and in 1901 his son Matthew C. Reed, a pilot, is living in Beacon Street in North Shields.

As Thomas gives his next of kin as M.C.Reed, this is likely to be his family. However we cannot be completely sure; the last known address for M.C.Reed is 19 Toll Square, North Shields.

Thomas is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

13/04/2010:

Note from Retired Tyne Pilot: John Hart Burn:

The Master-Thomas Reed: It was the practice at the time for those Pilot Assistants (Apprentices) who had obtained the required qualifications to be eligible to be examined for a first licence would be held close to the job so that they might be readily available for examination for that licence should a vacancy become available. They would be offered the job of Master of the steam cutter. Thomas Reed was one such. At a later date such candidates would be examined for the first licence and then if successful be offered the job as Master until a vacancy arose.

Bertram RUMNEY

Bertram was a cabin boy and he was only 16 when he died. He was born in 1901, registered as Bertram Thompson Rumney, in North Shields.

He was the son of William Rumney and Isabella Thompson who married in 1897. William was a coppersmith and the family lived in Dawson Street, North Shields in 1901.

However, in 1891 William was with his parents William and Mary at 27 Burdon Main Row, the last known address for Bertram. William senior was a boat builder.

Bertram is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

William H TINMOUTH

William was a Pilot 1^st class and he was 41 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of Thomas Young Tinmouth and his wife Sarah. His father Thomas was also a pilot, born in South Shields.

William Hopper Tinmouth married Mary Chambers Elliott in 1901 and they were living at 76 Edith Street in the 1901 census. Their last known address is 152 Fort Street in South Shields.

William is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Matthew YOUNG

Matthew was a Pilot 1^st class and he was 42 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of Matthew and Margaret Young. His father Matthew was also a pilot, born in South Shields.

Matthew [junior] married Jane Taylor Downie in 1896 and by 1901 they were living in Henry Street, South Shields with children Jane and Matthew.

Their last known address is 77 Baring Street.

Matthew is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

William YOUNG

William was a Pilot 1^st class and he was 47 when he died. He was born in South Shields, the son of Thomas and Isabella nee Robson. Thomas was also a pilot, born in South Shields.

William married Priscilla McKenzie in 1887 in South Shields, and by 1901 they were living at 117 Baring Street in South Shields with six young daughters.

Their last known address is 58 Julian Avenue.

William is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

It is tempting to think that William Young and Matthew Young are related, especially as the families lived so close to each other, but the censuses give no suggestion that this is the case, and “Young” is a very common name in the area.

Sources;

“British vessels lost at sea 1914-18”

CWGC website

Censuses

GRO

Update: September 2019

I’ve been informed by Jane Barr ( formerly Duncan) that there is now a Facebook page called Tyne Pilots family history which can be accessed on

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=450286809126715&ref=br_rs.

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WENDY CUMMIN 2008

Other pictures of the Protector