First World War Wouldhaves part 5

George Jackson Wouldhave and Thomas Wouldhave

Parents

George Jackson Wouldhave(GE108)  and Thomas Wouldhave (TH104) were brothers (born fifteen years apart), sons of Richard Wouldhave and Ellen Wells. Richard Wouldhave (RI103) was the son of Richard Wouldhave (RI102) and Jane Jackson (see blog North Shields Wouldhaves part 3).  Richard (RI103) was born in 1856 in North Shields and christened in the Middle Street Mission.  He married Ellen Wells in August 1875.  He had various occupations connected to the sea; shipyard labourer, seaman, waterman, mariner and steamboat fireman.  

Thomas Wouldhave (TH104)

Thomas Wouldhave from his Merchant
Marine Index Card

Family

Thomas was born on 2^nd September 1876, the eldest of twelve children, only seven of whom remained alive at the time of the 1911 census. He married Helen Lauder in October 1899 in Christchurch, North Shields.  Helen (HE102) was the daughter of Alexander and Margaret Lauder; Alexander was an iron ship builder and lived in Chirton, just to the west of North Shields. In the 1901 census they are living in Nile Street, North Shields and Thomas is given the occupation Seaman. They had three daughters, Helen Lauder Wouldhave (1901) Gladys Lauder (1904)and Beatrice (1906), and one son Thomas (1900).  Both Beatrice and Thomas sadly died the same year they were born. In the 1911 census both daughters, Helen and Gladys, are with their grandparents, Richard and Ellen, in King Street, North Shields.  Their mother Helen is with her parents Alexander and Margaret Lauder in Front Street, Chirton. Thomas, a merchant seaman, was presumably at sea at the time of the census. The two daughters later married, Helen to John Wilkinson in 1927 and Gladys to Robert Todd in 1929. Helen Wouldhave (HE102) died in mid 1915, aged 35, in North Shields.

War Service

Thomas was a merchant seaman.  His registration documents state that he had brown hair and brown eyes, was 5ft 6ins tall and had a tattoo of faith hope and charity on his right arm. He enlisted 9^th Jan 1915 into the RNR Trawler section as a Boiler fireman. He served on HMS Island Prince which was a Tyne trawler requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a mine sweeper. He received the Distinguished Service medal in recognition of services in Mine-sweeping operations between 1^st July 1916 and 31^st March 1917.  He had the rank of Ensign, 2nd Engineman RNR. 

After the War

Thomas continued with his Merchant Marine career.  He was listed on the Trojan Prince as a member of the crew arriving at Ellis Island in 1920. He was also listed on the Merchant Marine index in 1935 and 1939. Thomas died in 1960 in North Shields aged 84 years.

George Jackson Wouldhave (GE108)

As merchant mariners, Thomas and George
Jackson would have known this landmark
overlooking the Quayside in North Shields

Family

George Jackson was born on 18^th September 1891. He was probably named after his father’s brother George Jackson Wouldhave (1861-1867). He married Nancy Matthewson in 1915. We haven’t been able to find any further information about this marriage, whether there were any children or when Nancy died.  

War Service

George Jackson was also in the merchant marine.  In the 1911 census his occupation is given as Engineers  Apprentice. All we have found of his war service is his medal card.  He was awarded the Mercantile Marine Ribbon, and the British Medal ribbon in 1919 and the Mercantile Marine Medal in 1921.

After the War

The New York Passenger lists include George J Wouldhave arriving at Ellis Island in June 1918 aged 26 years and in 1923 he is listed as an Engineer (4) on board the S/S Lucerna in the inter-war list of Merchant Mariners. In the 1939 register, George is living in Hedley St, Percy Main and his occupation is Tool fitter. Although it gives his status as married, his wife is not at the same address. George married again in 1948 to Margaret Lillie. In 1939 register, Margaret is a Nursing Auxilliary. George Jackson died in 1967 in North Shields and Margaret in 1977.