Name

Robert John McDowell.

Description

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Certificate relating to Stoker Robert John McDowell.

Life Story

Name: Robert John McDowell.

Service Number: 2644S.

Rank: Stoker.

Battalion: HMS Goliath.

Regiment: Royal Navy.

Born: 21st September 1892, Shankill, Belfast.

Died: 13th May 1915.

Address: 77 Leopold Street, Belfast

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Robert John McDowell, son of James and Letitia McDowell, lived at 77 Leopold Street, Shankill, Belfast

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The 1901 Ireland Census has Robert living at 6 Summerhill (Clifton Antrim) with his mother, father, occupation, Able bodied Seaman, and three brothers, Samuel, 13 years, James, 11 years, William Richard, 6 years

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The 19011 Ireland Census has Roberts mother living at 93 Leopold Street.

His father died on the 10th November 1908

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Robert signed the Ulster Covenant on the 28th of September 1912, Ulster Day within Belfast City Hall

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Robert joined the Royal Navy on the 9th August 1913.

He was despatched from Belfast on the 3rd August 1914 to Portsmouth, England, and HMS Goliath.

Robert was a Stoker within the Royal Navy when while serving aboard HMS Goliath he Drowned, Lost At Sea on the 13th May 1915 aged 22 years, after his ship, HMS Goliath while supporting the landings of British Mediterranean Forces at Cape Helles, Y Beach, was hit by three torpedoes from the Ottoman Destroyer, the Muvenet-i Millye

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A local newspaper states.

BELFAST VICYTIMS OF THE GOLIATH.

Mr Samuel McDowell, Station Street, Renton, informs us that his brother, Robert John McDowell, was a stoker on the Goliath. As his name does not appear in the list of survivors published, it is feared he has been drowned. He was a naval reservist and 21 years of age. A native of Belfast, he was employed with Messrs Workman Clark Co, Belfast, before the war

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This article was repeated within three local newspapers

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Royal Naval Reserve documents show his brother William McDowell, 52 Ohio Street, being awarded and receiving three payments of Naval Prize Money

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Robert received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-1915 Star.

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He is Remembered at Portsmouth Naval Memorial, United Kingdom.

To Remember Is To Honour

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