Robert Norman Watson

A Chief Engineer Officer with S.S. Larpool (Whitby), Robert died on 2nd of November 1941 aged 50. 

Robert was born at South Shields on 14 January 1891, a son of Charles John and Mary Ann Watson. In 1891 his family lived at 20 Chichester Road, Westoe, South Shields. Robert was baptised at Saint Michael’s Church, South Westoe, on 11 February 1891. In 1901 Robert’s family lived at 14 Vine Street, South Shields. By 1911 they were living at 10 Talbot Road, Tyne Dock, South Shields, and Ribert was a ship fitter. In 1914 Robert became a freemason. 

Robert became a marine engineer and by 1918 he was a Chief Engineer with the Merchant Navy. In the 1920s he spent some time working in India.  

On 23 January 1922 Robert married Eugenie Gordon at Holy Trinity Church, Barnes. Robert was an engineer and they both gave their address as 148 Castlenau, Barnes. In 1939 their home was at 109 Sussex Road, Lowestoft, and Robert was a marine engineer. During the war Eugenie lived at High Wynds, 97 South Parade, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, but afterwards returned to live at 109 Sussex Road. 

By October 1941 Robert was the Chief Engineer on the S. S. Larpool. On 28-29 October 1941 the Larpool lost contact with convoy ON-27 because of bad weather. By 2 November the Larpool was about 150 miles southeast of Cape Race and steaming in rough seas and facing strong winds. In the early morning on 2 November German submarine U-208 fired torpedoes which hit the Larpool, despite the bad weather conditions most of the crew were able to make for the lifeboats but it was several days before any of them were rescued. On 43 crew 26, including Robert, lost their lives.