Carpenter Arthur Hartley
Mercantile Marine H.M.S. Viknor
Born in Burnley
Died 13th January 1915, aged 24
Lived at East High View, Gateshead
Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 9, UK
Also commemorated on the Palmer Cenotaph in Jarrow for Hebburn Shipyard

Son of Samuel Hartley
Husband of Esther Hartley of East View High Heworth Gateshead

Parents Samuel Hartley and Elizabeth Ann Radcliffe married in Burnley 1889
Arthur was born in Burnley 1890 – 1891
Arthur’s father is on the 1901 census in Burnley as a cabinet Maker

Arthur would have served his time as a Carpenter in the Palmer Shipyard at Hebburn from 1906 to 1912 (note there were Palmer shipyards in Jarrow and Hebburn)

Arthur and his parents and siblings are on the 1911 census in Gateshead born in Burnley

Arthur married Esther Blythman in Gateshead in 1913

Arthur and Esther had a son Edgar Hartley born Gateshead 1914

Arthur would have been called up in the Navy late 1914

HMS Viknor :

S/S Atrato was a Liner built in 1888.

She was used in the service between England and the West Indies and could carry up to 280 passengers.

Bought by Viking Cruising Co. Ltd. in 1912, she was renamed Viking.
At the beginning of WWI, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty, equipped with armament and renamed HMS Viknor. She was mainly used as a cruising patrol ship.
On 13th January 1915, while on patrol, she sank in heavy weather without any distress call. It was assumed that she was sunk by a mine, belonging to a minefield laid by the Germans. Not a single soul of the 295 crew was saved. Many of the bodies were washed ashore days after the sinking.

There are another five seaman who worked at the Palmer Shipyards in Jarrow and Hebburn commemorated on the Palmer Cenotaph who went down with HMS Viknor in 1915

(Information courtesy of Vin Mullen from his site Jarrow War Roll )