Levi Banner Alderson (1878-1918)
Houghton le Spring fitter served in the Royal Naval Reserve on HM Tug Desire
Levi Banner Alderson was born in Houghton le Spring on 16 October 1878. His father was Primitive Methodist minister John Alderson (1842-1916) from Middridge. His mother was Jane Alderson nee Hobson, born in Boldron, North Yorkshire in 1841. She was the daughter of a preacher in the Darlington Circuit. In 1881 the Alderson family lived in Manse House, Middleton in Teesdale. By 1891 they had moved to 2 Garnet Street, Marske, North Yorkshire. Levi had two sisters and two brothers.
At the time of the 1901 census Levi was a boarder with a family living at 123 Westmorland Road, Elswick, Newcastle. His occupation was described as an ordnance fitter. He married Eleanor Ann “Nellie” Alderson (1875-1958) in Gateshead in 1903. She was a Gateshead fruiterer’s daughter. By 1911 they had one daughter named Minnie and lived at 58 Whitehall Road, Gateshead. Levi’s occupation was described as a hydraulic fitter.
Levi was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). He served as an engine room artificer with the service number 403/EB. In 1918 he was serving on HM Tug Desire. This was a hired screw tug manned by naval ratings with Admiralty civilians carrying out towing and salvage duties. On 24 January 1918 HM Desire was towing the lighters X6 and X110 from Grimsby to Rosyth when it was sunk by a German submarine in an action off the Yorkshire coast near Redcar. There were ten deaths on HM Desire including Levi and six on motor lighter X6.
Levi’s body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial. He was remembered locally on the Roll of Honour 1914-18 in Gateshead Library and on the Plaque 1914-18 in Durham Road Primitive Methodist Chapel. In his will he left effects valued at £410 13s 8d to his wife.
Levi Banner Alderson was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: Gateshead
Birth date: 16-Oct-1878
Death date: 24-Jan-1918
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: Manse House, Middleton in Teesdale (1881 census)
2 Garnet Street, Marske, North Yorkshire (1891 census)
123 Westmorland Road, Elswick, Newcastle (1901 census)
58 Whitehall Road, Gateshead (1911 census)
Religion: Primitive Methodist
Employment: Ordnance fitter (1901 census)
Hydraulic fitter (1911 census)
Family: Parents: John Alderson (1842-1916), Jan Alderson nee Hobson (1841)
Siblings: Fred Livingstone Alderson (1873), Hephzibah Alderson (1874), Hobson Douglas Alderson (1878), Lillian Violet Beulah Alderson (1880)
Spouse: Eleanor Ann “Nellie” Alderson (1875-1958)
Children: Minnie Alderson (1905)
Military service:
403/EB
Engine room artificer
Royal Naval Reserve
HM Tug Desire
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Roll of Honour and Case 1914-18, Library, Gateshead
Plaque 1914-18, Durham Road Primitive Methodist Chapel, Gateshead
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham