Harry Harrower - Chief Engineer

Merchant Navy
Died: 31st January 1917, At Sea

Harry was born on 25th September 1877 at Guildhall Street, Dunfermline. His father was John, a spirit merchant and his mother was Barbara Welsh Davidson. They were married on 21st February 1876 at 18 Kelly Street, Greenock. Both were living in Dunfermline at the time of their marriage.

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Harry was just 11 years old when his father died in 1888 in Dunfermline.On the 1891 census, Harry was living at 12 Guildhall Street, Dunfermline, with his mother, younger brother Willie and two cousins. Harry cannot be found on the 1901 census, despite a search across Scotland. His mother Barbara appears on the 1901 census, living at 16 Gibb Street, Dunfermline. On the 1911 Inverkip census, Annie is living at Seaview, Main Street with their daughter, Barbara, however an entry for Harry cannot be found.

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Harry married Annie Menzies Ramage on 4 November 1907 at Minerva Street, Glasgow. His occupation is given as a marine engineer and his address is 'onboard the SS Cathcart Park'. Annie's address is Kelly Street, Greenock. Their first child, Barbara Welsh Davidson Harrower was born on 1st January 1908 at 27 Kelly Street. Their second child, Elizabeth Leslie Harrower was born on 11th May 1913 at Seaview, Main Street. Their third child John Blackwood Harrower was also born here on 8th April 1915.

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Harry was lost at sea while serving in the Merchant Navy on the SS Ravensbourne which was sunk by a mine from a German submarine on a voyage from Tyne to London, 8 miles southeast of the River Tyne. He was one of 3 casualties. The SS Ravensbourne was built in 1916 by Campbeltown Shipbuilding Co. and was a coal cargo ship. He is commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial in London, in Dunfermline Abbey and on the Inverkip War Memorial.

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At the time of his death, the family were living at Seaview, Main Street, Inverkip. Annie died in Greenock in 1968.

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It appears John served in the Royal Navy and married Margaret Tompkins in Bedford in 1944. He died in Calgary, Canada in 2000. Barbara married James Morrison, a baker, in Glasgow in 1928. She died in West Kilbride, Ayrshire in 1994.  It appears Elizabeth didn't marry and died in the Greenock area in 2002.