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Matthew Gibson Bruce (1899-1917)


South Shields fisherman served as leading deck hand on HM Trawler Pitstruan


Matthew Gibson Bruce was born on 4 September 1899, although he misstated the year of his birth on several occasions in order to serve in World War One, as his story shows. His father was James Anderson Bruce (1857-1924), a South Shields boilermaker. His mother was Margaret Bruce nee Cooper (1858-1922) from North Shields, Northumberland. She was a boat builder’s daughter.

Matthew’s parents married in 1876 in South Shields. The 1911 census records that during their marriage they had 11 children, eight of whom were surviving in 1911. Matthew was their youngest child. In 1901 Matthew and his family lived at 17 Harper Street, South Shields. By 1911 they had moved to 6 James Street, South Shields.

On 2 June 1915 Matthew attested in the 19th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) in South Shields. He claimed to be a miner aged 19 years and nine months. In fact he was 15 years and nine months old. Based at Cocken Hall Matthew soon found himself in trouble perhaps because of his youth and immaturity. In June and July 1915 he was absent from tattoo on three occasions and found guilty of irregular conduct in the barrack room on one occasion. Each time he was confined to barracks for four days. It is likely that this drew the attention of the authorities to the young soldier. He was discharged on 26 July 1915 for having made a misstatement as to his age on enlistment.

On 26 November 1915 Matthew enlisted in the 7th Battalion DLI in Sunderland. This time he claimed he was 19 years four months old and a fisherman. He was actually still only 16 years and three months old. This time his deception was more successful and he served with the 7th Battalion DLI until he was transferred to the 23rd Provisional Battalion on 12 April 1916 where he continued to serve. A letter from his parents on 29 June 1916 alerted the authorities to him being underage and requested his discharge. In due course, after his birth certificate was checked, he was discharged in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex on 4 August 1916 for being under 17 years of age. By this time he had served for 252 days.

It is likely that although he misrepresented his age at his second attestation Matthew actually was a fisherman. He joined the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) and served as a leading deck hand with the Trawler Section. His service number was 12880/DA. It is interesting to note that his RNR service record shows his birth year as 1897 in order to add two years to his real age.

Matthew was serving on HM Trawler Pitstruan when it was mined and sunk in the North Sea off Noss Point, Wick, Caithness, Scotland on 13 April 1917. Of her crew 11 members were killed and only two survived. Four bodies including Matthew’s were recovered. He is buried in Harton Cemetery, South Shields in grave number Q.8821. He was 17 years, seven months and ten days old when he died.

Matthew Gibson Bruce was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: South Shields

Birth date: 04-Sep-1899

Death date: 13-Apr-1917

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 17 Harper Street, South Shields (1901 census)
6 James Street, South Shields (1911 census)

Employment: Fisherman (Service records)

Family: Parents: James Anderson Bruce (1857-1924), Margaret Bruce nee Cooper (1858-1922)
Siblings: Isabella Bruce (b 1881), Barbara Bruce (b 1882), Jane Bruce (b 1884), James Bruce (b 1887), Ettie Bruce (b 1889), Margaret Bruce (b 1892), John Bruce (b 1896), Hannah Bruce (b 1898)

Military service:

Enlisted 19th Battalion Durham Light Infantry 2 June 1915
Private
Service Number 1287
Discharged under age 26 July 1915
Enlisted 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry 26 November 1915
Private
Service Number 4381
23 Provisional Battalion 12 April 1916
Discharged under age 4 August 1916
Royal Naval Reserve
Service Number 12880 DA
Leading deck hand
HM Trawler Pitstruan

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Harton Cemetery, South Shields (Q.8821)

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham