Thomas Vass Hughes.
Thomas Vass Hughes was born in Balintore on the 17th of March 1919, he was the son of Samuel and Annie Hughes, Bank Street, Balintore. As Hughes is not a Balintore surname we assume that his mother, Annie, was a Vass. Thomas was educated at Hilton Public School, leaving in 1933, he later joined the Merchant Navy as a Cabin Boy, his papers are dated 11th January 1937. When the Second World War broke he joined the Royal Navy and was to be Killed in Action on the 26th of May 1944. The Motor Torpedo Boat 732 he was serving on was thought to had being laying mines outside French seaports just prior to D-Day when 732 plus another MTB was asked to check reports of two German E-Boats being in another area. The Free French Destroyer La Combattante was also in that area and immediately opened fire, thinking the British boats were the German boats. MTB 732 was sunk but the other MTB managed to fire off recognition flares and the firing stopped. MTB 732, because of the work it was doing had more than just the normal crew on board and seventeen were killed. Thomas’s body was recovered and is buried in South Shields where he lived with his wife Annie and family. He is listed as a Seaman, RNR, on the Commonwealth War Graves but on Fearn War Memorial he is listed as a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm.
Alexander MacDonald.
Alexander MacDonald was born in Hilton in 1825. Alexander was 5ft 8 1/2ins tall, with blue eyes and fair hair.
Alexander MacDonald.
Alexander MacDonald born in Hilton on the 25th of July 1878 at 7 Brae Street [King Street]. Listed as an Able Seaman.
David McDonald.
David McDonald was born in Hilton on the 30th of September 1905, he was rated as a sailor, David was 5ft. 9ins., had brown eyes and dark brown hair.
Donald MacDonald.
Donald MacDonald was born in Hilton on the 10th of April 1896 at 8 Shore Street. He was listed as a Fireman. He survived the oil tanker Gretafield being torpedoed off Dunbeath in February 1940. Brother of William MacDonald.
Hugh MacDonald.
Hugh MacDonald was born in Hilton on the 13th of September 1898. He was rated an Able Seaman.
Hugh MacDonald.
Hugh MacDonald was born in Hilton on the 8th of October 1908. He was 5ft. 8in. tall, brown eyes and dark hair and had no tattoos.
William MacDonald.
William MacDonald was born in Hilton on the 28th of March 1898 at 8 Shore Street. He was rated as a Fireman. Brother of Donald MacDonald.
Alexander MacKay.
Alexander MacKay was born in Hilton on the 7th of January 1818. He first went to sea as a fisherman when he was 10 years old. Alexander became a Merchant Seaman on the 19th of July 1846, at the time he was residing in Portgower, he was 5ft. 4ins., had blue eyes and brown hair and was unable to write, he signed his mark.
Alexander MacKay.
Alexander MacKay was born on the 16th of November 1912 in Balintore, the son of Alexander and Annie MacKay, he was married to Barbara Vass [Tom]. He was rated an Ordinary Seaman, he was 5ft. 4ins tall, had grey eyes and dark hair and no distinguishing marks. His original papers were lost through enemy action on the 3rd of May 1941 and Alexander was to lose his life when M.V. Henry Stanley [Liverpool] was torpedoed in the Atlantic 580 miles northwest of the Azores on the 6th of December 1942. The crew and passengers took to the lifeboats and were questioned by the submarine commander, the ship’s Captain was taken aboard the submarine as a Prisoner of War and the other 63 souls were left in the lifeboats, they were never seen again.
Charles MacKay.
Charles MacKay was born in Hilton on the 8th May 1892, the son of Charles and Ann Mackay of 7 Lady Street. Charles’s merchant navy papers say he was 5ft 10ins tall, hazel eyes and dark hair, he had a tattoo of a bird and true love on his right wrist.
David MacKay.
David Mackay was born in Hilton on the 23rd of August 1895. He was rated as a Seaman.
David McKay.
David McKay was born in Hilton on the 20th of June 1895. David was rated as a Seaman, he was 5ft 6ins tall, grey eyes and fair hair, he had a tattoo of a anchor and stem on his right arm.
Donald MacKay.
Donald MacKay was born in Hilton in 1819. Donald was 5ft 9 3/4ins. with blue eyes, brown hair and no tattoos.
Donald McKay.
Donald McKay was born in Hilton in 1901, he was rated as a Fireman and Trimmer. Donald was 5ft 9ins. tall, had blue eyes and fair hair, he had a tattoo on his right forearm which was a cross and the words ‘ in memory of my dear mother’.
Hugh MacKay.
Hugh MacKay, born in Hilton, Merchant Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the announcement was made in the London Gazette in February 1918.
Alexander MacKenzie.
Alexander MacKenzie was born in Balintore on the 12th of August 1894. Alexander was 5ft 8ins. tall, had fair hair and grey eyes and also had a tattoo of a ring on the middle finger of his left hand. Alexander listed his father William MacKenzie of 15 Bank Street, Balintore as his next of kin.
Alexander MacKenzie.
Alexander MacKenzie was born in Balintore on the 30th of November 1889. He was rated as an Able Seaman.
John MacKenzie.
John MacKenzie was born in Hilton on the 1st of May 1897. He was rated as a Sailor and his Royal Naval Reserve No. was 5399A.
John MacKenzie [Curly].
John MacKenzie was born in Hilton and was a member of the crew of the RMS Athenia which was the first ship to be torpedoed on the day war was declared on the 3rd of September 1939. John survived the sinking but 138 passengers and crew were lost. He went on to serve in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Calpe, he was Mentioned in Dispatches for his bravery during the Raid on Dieppe.
Thomas Vass MacKenzie.
Thomas Vass MacKenzie was born in Balintore on the 22nd of December 1911. He was 5ft 6 and 1/2inchs tall, grey eyes, auburn hair. He had no distingishing marks and his first deep sea voyage was on the Durham Castle.
Walter MacKenzie.
Walter MacKenzie is listed on his Merchant Navy documents as been born in Balintore on the 1st April 1885, his next of kin is given as his Uncle, Donald MacKenzie, 15 Bank Street, Balintore. Walter was at this address on the 1891 Census, no parents listed.
Walter was 5ft. 8in. tall, fair hair, blue eyes and had tattoo’s of a thistle and clasped hands on his right arm. He was an Able Seaman.
William MacKenzie.
William MacKenzie was born in Hilton on the 7th of January 1890. His rating was a Sailor and his Royal Naval Reserve No. was 9676DA.
Donald MacLean.
Donald MacLean was born at 1 John Street, Balintore, son of Donald and Ina Maclean on the 12th of June 1895. We are not sure if father Donald, a salmon fisher, was from the villages but his wife Ina was and their three children were all born in Balintore. Son Donald was rated as a seaman. Brother of Hugh MacLean.
Hugh MacLean.
Hugh MacLean was born at 1 John Street, Balintore, on the 16th of December 1900, son of Donald and Ina, brother of Donald. He was rated as a sailor.
Alexander McAngus.
Alexander McAngus was born in Hilton on the 12th of January 1895, he was rated as a Fireman/Trimmer.
David Wood McAngus.
David Wood McAngus was born in Hilton on the 16th of July 1903, he was rated as a Cabin Boy. David worked on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Kalgoorlie gold mines in Australia, married in Australia and was a Prisoner of War of the Japanese in World War 2, he survived the war.
Donald McAngus.
Donald McAngus was born in Hilton in 1825, he went to sea as a fisherman when he was 12 years old and joined the Merchant Navy in 1845 at the age of 20. He was 5ft 4ins tall, had grey eyes and brown hair.
Hugh McAngus.
Hugh McAngus was born in Hilton on the 10th of June 1898, he was rated as a Bosun. He was 5ft 9ins. tall, had grey eyes and auburn hair, he also had a tattoo on his right arm, hands across the sea.
Hugh McAngus.
Hugh McAngus was born in Hilton on the 3rd of October 1912, he was rated an Ordinary Seaman. He was 5ft 9 1/2ins. tall, with blue eyes and fair hair.
John McAngus.
John McAngus was born in Hilton on the 1st of January 1891, he was rated as a 1st Officer.
Alexander McKenzie.
Alexander McKenzie was born on the 12th of August 1894 at 15 Bank Street, the son of William and Eliza McKenzie. Alexander was 5ft 8ins tall, had grey eyes and fair hair, his only identification mark is listed as a ring on the middle finger of his left hand. Alexander served in the Royal Navy in WW1. His travels took him to Australia where he married Harriet Dorothy Mary Manuel in Duri, NSW, they moved to Newcastle, NSW, and had three children, Donald Walter, Margaret Alice and Judith Marcia. Alexander died on the 6th of December 1964 aged 70.
William Morrison.
William Morrison of 12 New Street, Shandwick, died of a heart attack at the age of 52 while his ship, the Esso Brixham, was tied up at Dingle jetty, Liverpool, in August 1964.
Alexander Patience.
Alexander Patience was born in Hilton on the 8th of July 1917. he was 5ft 4 1/2 inches tall, had grey eyes, brown hair and a tattoo of a cross on his right forearm. He served on the RSS Discovery in the Antarctic [with his brother George] for two years before the outbreak of World War 2. Being in the RNR he joined the Royal Navy for the duration of the war.
Donald Patience.
Donald Patience was born in 5 Shore Street, Hilton, son of Donald and Isabella and brother of Christina, Jessie and Isabella. According to his Merchant Navy ticket he was born in 1891 but the 1901 census has him as 8 years old in that year. He was rated as a Sailor, was 5ft. 9ins., had blue eyes and brown hair, Donald had tattoo’s of a sailor, church steeple and tombstone on his right forearm. His first foreign going ship was the Helmond in 1923. Donald was also in the RNR.
George McKay Patience.
George McKay Patience had arrived back in London from East Africa aboard the Union Castle Line’s, Llanstephen Castle, in October 1935. His choice after being paid off was the long journey back to Hilton or along the dock the RSS Discovery, the Antarctic research ship, was berthed, it didn’t hurt to ask, so for the next four years he sailed the icy wastes of Antarctica [the last two with his brother Alexander]. George was born in Hilton in 1910, the son of William Patience, Lady Street, he would one of 35 men to receive the White Ribbon for the Bronze Polar Medal for being part of the Discovery crew that rescued the explorer Lincoln Ellsworth, missing in Antarctica for two months in 1935/36.
James Patience.
James Patience was born in Hilton in 1903, he was rated as a Sailor. James was 5ft. 9ins., had grey eyes and fair hair. His previous occupation was a fisherman and his first ship was the Aurania in 1929.
William John Patience.
William John Patience was born on the 13th July 1912 in Hilton. He preferred to use the name John as he signed his name Wm. John Patience. John was 5ft 10ins., had grey eyes and auburn hair. His previous occupation was a fisherman and first Merchant ship was in 1935.
William Patience.
William Patience was born in Hilton in 1907, he was rated a Sailor. William was 6ft., had blue eyes and fair hair. His previous occupation was a fisherman and his first Merchant ship was in 1928.
Andrew Ross.
Andrew Ross was born at 15 New Street, Shandwick on the 1st of July 1877, the son of Andrew and Ann Ross. He was rated an Able Seaman, he was 5ft. 8ins. had dark hair and blue eyes, no tattoos. His next of kin was his wife Annie Ross, 14 Bank Street, Balintore. He was to lose his life in WW1 in Iraq were he succombed to heatstoke in 1916 while serving in the Royal Navy on HMS Dalhousie.
Andrew Ross.
Andrew Ross was born on the 2nd of January 1891 in 3 Shore Street, Shandwick, the son of Andrew and Annie Ross. He was rated an Able Seaman and his Royal Naval Reserve No. was 4096C.
Andrew Ross.
Andrew Ross was born in Balintore on the 12th of August 1893. He was rated an able Seaman.
Charles Ross.
Charles Ross was born in 11 King Street, Hilton, Charles was 5ft 7ins tall, blue eyes and auburn hair, he was killed when his ship the Montreal City [Bristol] was torpedoed in December 1942 in the Atlantic. The crew abandoned ship and took to the lifeboats but they were never seen again. He was the son of William and Catherine Ross and was 32 years of age. His brother William was also lost in 1939.
Donald Ross.
Donald Ross was born in Balintore on the 4th of May 1894, rated as a seaman. He was in the R.N.R. his number was 4639A. Donald was 5ft. 8 1/2ins. tall, grey eyes, brown hair and had a tattoo of a lady on his left arm.
Hugh Ross.
Hugh Ross was born in Shandwick on the 1st of July 1887. He was rated a Fireman.
Hugh Ross.
Hugh Ross was born at 3 Mid Street, Shandwick on the 1st of December 1899. He was rated an Able Seaman.
James Ross.
James Ross was born in Balintore in 1891. James was 5ft 9 1/2ins. tall, had blue eyes and fair hair.
James Ross.
James Ross was born on the 6th of December 1913 in Balintore. He is listed as an Able Seaman, is 5ft. 5ins. tall, has brown eyes and dark hair.
John Ross.
John Ross was born on the 9th of June 1898 in Hilton. He is listed as a Seaman.
John Ross.
John Ross was born in 1899 in Shandwick, he is listed as a Fireman and is 5ft 9ins tall with grey eyes and brown hair. He has the bust of a lady and the words Maggie Ross tattooed on his left arm.
John Ross.
John Ross was born in 1900 in Shandwick, he is listed as a Sailor and 5ft. 6ins tall with blue eyes and brown hair.
Kenneth Ross.
Kenneth Ross was born in Shandwick in 1884, and was an Able Seaman. The only Kenneth Ross in Shandwick in the 1891 Census is at 7 New Street and is listed as 4 years old.
William Ross.
William Ross was born in Shandwick in 1803. William was 5ft. 9ins. tall, with blue eyes and brown hair.
William Ross.
William Ross was born in Shandwick on the 14th of April 1885. He was rated an Acting Leading Seaman.
William Ross.
William Ross, 11 King Street Hilton, was lost when his ship, the oil tanker M.V. Inverlane [Glasgow], hit mines off Sunderland in December 1939, he was 25 years old and the son of William and Catherine Ross. His brother Charles was also lost in 1942.
Alexander Skinner.
Alexander Skinner was born on the 27th of August 1902 at 2 Ross Street, Balintore. He was 5ft. 7in. tall, had grey eyes and brown hair. He had no tattoos but he had a scar on his left ear, his next of kin is listed as Alexander Skinner [father], 2 Ross Street, Balintore.
Andrew Skinner.
Andrew Skinner, born in Balintore, survived when the Nairn registered schooner Nairnshire is nearly wrecked in a severe storm while trying to enter Aberdeen harbour with her main mast gone in December 1908.
Andrew Skinner.
Andrew Skinner was born on the 26th of November 1894 in Balintore. He was listed as a Seaman and his Royal Naval Reserve No. was 4726A.
C. Ralph Skinner.
Charles Ralph Skinner was born in the Seaboard Villages on the 27th of July 1915. He was rated as a Sailor, was 5ft 9ins. with grey eyes and dark hair. He seems to prefer the name Ralph as he signed his papers C. Ralph Skinner.
David Skinner.
David Skinner, born in Balintore in 1903, drowned after falling from a ladder while chipping paint on his ship the M.V. Limerick in Fremantle harbour, Australia, in October 1928. David was 5ft. 8ins. tall with blue eyes and brown hair.
David Alick. Skinner [Dey].
David Alexander Skinner was born at 9 Bank Street on the 24th April 1908, his parents were William and Annie [nee MacKenzie], his byname of Dey comes from the Gaelic for David [Daidh]. David was a deep sea sailor and records starting from 1930 show trips to the Argentine, South Africa and the Far East. He joined the RNR in 1925 and was called up in 1939, his naval record states he was 5ft 5ins tall, blue eyed with dark brown hair and a birth mark under his chin, he served the duration of the war and then returned to the merchant navy, his last listing is as a bosun in 1963.
Donald Skinner.
Donald Skinner, born in Balintore in 1857, is shown on the 1911 Census as being a seaman aboard the ship Earl of Aberdeen moored at Newcastle.
Donald Skinner.
Donald Skinner was born at 10 New Street, Shandwick on the 12th of December 1898 He was the son of William and Christina Skinner [nee Morrison]. Donald was rated an Able Seaman.
Finlay Skinner.
Finlay Skinner was born on the 5th June 1899 in Hilton.
George Skinner.
George Skinner was born in Balintore in 1880, he was 5ft 4ins. tall, had blue eyes and dark hair. George had rings tattooed on the second and third fingers and also a anchor on the back, all on the left hand. His original papers had been lost in a shipwreck.
Jessie Ann Skinner.
Jessie Ann Skinner was born in Balintore, she was a trained nurse, Jessie was killed in November 1940 when her ship the M.V. Rangitane [Plymouth] was fired on by German surface raiders not long after leaving New Zealand. She was 49 years old, had fair hair, grey eyes and was 5ft. tall.
John Skinner.
John Skinner was born in the Seaboard Villages, possibly Shandwick, on the 5th of February 1883. He was rated an Able Seaman and his Royal Naval Reserve No. was 3552C.
John Skinner.
John Skinner was born in Balintore in 1888. He was rated as a Carpenter and was 5ft 9ins tall with hazel eyes and dark brown hair and no distinguishing marks.
John Skinner.
John Skinner was born in Balintore on the 8th of July 1894. He was rated an Able Seaman.
John Skinner.
John Skinner was born in Balintore on the 2nd of January 1914. He was rated as an Ordinary Seaman, was 5ft 7ins tall with blue eyes and light brown hair, no distinguishing marks.
David Sutherland.
David Sutherland was born in Hilton on the 6th of July 1893. He was rated as an Able Seaman but went on to become a Ship’s Master. David was 5ft. 7ins., had grey eyes and dark hair.
Here are extracts of David Sutherland’s obituary after his death at his house, Seacote, Hilton, on the 8th of November 1957 after a long illness.
David left school at the age of twelve and served with the Merchant Navy first on coastal vessels and later on ocean going ships.
He educated himself in the ways of seamanship and other branches of learning and became a master mariner at the age of thirty, by the time he retired from the sea he had circumnavigated the globe on numerous occasions and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of harbours and trade routes around the world.
Captain David Sutherland, Hilton.
His service in the Merchant Navy in both wars is hard to beat, continually afloat in the most dangerous of seas. In the second war, his was blown up in the North Sea [possibly SS Frumenton] and he and his crew were lucky to survive. He sailed in many convoys and was appointed Convoy Commodore during many trips across the North Atlantic in the worst phases of the conflict. His skill and knowledge of navigating the waters of the Western Isles and the Pentland Firth was invaluable to Allied shipping in those perilous days.
David had a keen and energetic mind and many will miss his stimulating company discussing his favourite subjects, ancient civilisations and the origins of languages. He was a captivating talker and his tales of storms, fogs and hair breadth wartime escapes kept children from their play and old men from the chimney corner.
One of David’s deepest regrets was the lose of his small library of rare and curious books picked up all around the world, lost when his ship blew up.
Captain David Sutherland, Hilton, born 1893. Possibly on board SS Frumenton.
SS Atlantic City, captained by David Sutherland, Hilton.
Crew of SS Atlantic City, captained by David Sutherland, Hilton.
The SS Allerton, last ship commanded by David Sutherland, Hilton.
Donald Tarrel.
Donald Tarrel was born in Hilton on the 12th of October 1892. He was rated as a Seaman. Donald was 5ft. 4ins. tall with blue eyes and brown hair, he had a tattoo which said true love with a heart and bird on his right arm. He was the son of John and Isabella Tarrel and was killed when the SS Baron Dechmont [Ardrossan] was torpedoed in the Atlantic on route from Barry [South Wales] to Pernambuco [Brazil] with a cargo of coal on the 3rd of January 1943.
SS Baron Dechmont
Alexander Vass.
Alexander Vass was born in Balintore on the 1st of January 1888. He was rated as a 2nd Mate.
Alexander Vass.
Alexander Vass was born in Shandwick on the 1st of May 1889. He was rated an Able Seaman.
Alexander Vass.
Alexander Vass was born in Shandwick on the 7th of August 1891. He was rated an Able Seaman.
Alexander Vass.
Alexander Vass was born in Balintore on the 18th of August 1892. He was rated an Able Seaman, he was 5ft 5ins tall, brown eyes and brown hair and had a tattoo on his left forearm, homeward bound and a ship.
Alexander Vass.
Alexander Vass was born in Hilton on the 28th of February 1898. He was rated as a Donkeyman, he was 5ft. 6ins. had brown eyes and dark hair. He had tattoos of a bird on both hands. Possibly going by the date of birth the same Alexander Vass as below. This picture circa 1952.
Alexander Vass.
Alexander Vass was born in Hilton on the 28th of February 1898. He was rated as a Trimmer. Possibly going by the date of birth, the same Alexander Vass as above. This picture circa 1920.
Andrew Vass.
Andrew Vass was born in Shandwick in 1887. He was rated as a Seaman and was 5ft 41/2ins tall with blue eyes and brown hair going grey. He had a tattoo of crossed hands on his right forearm and crossed hands and the head of a woman on his left forearm. His Royal Naval Reserve No. was 4304C.
Andrew Vass.
Andrew Vass was born in Hilton on the 29th of July 1893. Listed as a Fireman.
David Vass.
David Vass was born in Shandwick in 1822. David was 5ft. 5ins. tall, had grey eyes and fair hair, he had no tattoos. When he was not on board ships, his home was stated as Balintore.
David Vass.
David Vass was born at 1 Mid Street, Shandwick on the 12th of June 1895. He was 5ft 8ins tall, had dark brown hair and hazel eyes, he also had various tattoos. His Royal Naval Reserve No. was 5374A and his next of kin is listed as Mrs Vass, 1 Mid Street, Shandwick. Awarded the British Empire Medal for his work with the Arctic convoys in WW2, his ship was torpedoed, he was rescued from the freezing water only to have the rescue ship torpedoed and had to be rescued again from the freezing water. The family story says the second rescue ship was German, a new ship with fancy winches which the crew couldn’t work, the deal was struck if he showed them how to work the winches David would put ashore in a neutral country, which is what happened.
Donald Vass.
Donald Vass was born in Shandwick in 1827. Donald was 5ft 1 3/4ins tall, with blue eyes and fair hair.
Donald Vass.
Donald Vass was born in Balintore in 1860. He was 5ft 2ins tall, had blue eyes and grey hair [this discription was in 1923 when he would be 63 years old].
Donald Vass.
Donald Vass was born in Hilton in 1890, he was 5ft 7 and 1/2in., blue eyes and brown hair. He had a tattoo of a woman on his right wrist and a thistle on his left wrist. He was still in the Merchant Navy in 1956. Possibly the same Donald Vass as below. This picture circa 1952.
Donald Vass.
Donald Vass was born at 13 Lady Street, Hilton on the 8th of November 1892. He was 5ft 7 ins tall, had light brown hair and blue eyes. He had a tattoo of a thistle on his left forearm and a head of a woman on his right forearm. His rating was Fireman and his next of kin was Mrs Jessie Vass [mother] 13 Lady Street, Hilton. Possibly the same Donald Vass as above. This picture circa 1919.
Hugh Vass.
Hugh Vass was born in Shandwick on the 15th of April 1906, he was 5ft 8ins, had dark hair and blue eyes, he also had a tattoo of a swallow on his right forearm. He had to have a replacement book in 1938 as his previous one had been stolen with his clothes.
John Vass.
John Vass was born in Shandwick in 1823. John was 5ft 1 3/4ins. tall, with grey eyes and brown hair
John Vass.
John Vass was born in Shandwick in 1824. John was 5ft 6 1/4ins. tall, had grey eyes and brown hair.
John Vass.
John Vass was born in Shandwick in 1881.
John Vass.
John Vass was born in Balintore on the 14th of June 1882. He was rated an Able Seaman and his Royal Naval Reserve No. was 3281C.
John Vass.
John Vass was born in Shandwick in 1882. He was rated as an Able Seaman, was 5ft 7ins tall with blue eyes and dark hair and he had no distinguishing marks.
John Vass.
John Vass was born on the 23rd of September 1896 in Balintore. He was rated as an Able Seaman.
John Vass.
John Vass was born in Balintore in 1903. He was rated as a Sailor and was 5ft 8ins tall, hazel eyes and dark hair. His only distinguishing mark was a wart on his upper right arm.
John Vass.
John Vass was born in Shandwick on the 12th of June 1912. He was rated as a Sailor and was 5ft 5ins tall, had grey eyes and auburn hair. In 1937 he was going on his first foreign voyage.
William Kennedy Vass.
William Kennedy Vass was born in Shandwick in 1895. He was rated as a Trimmer and was 5ft 6ins tall, with blue eyes and brown hair.
John Wilson.
John Wilson was born in Hilton in 1903. He was 5ft. 8in. tall with blue eyes and dark brown hair, no tattoos.
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