BORN HULL 12/01/1893. SON OF HENRIETTA DONOVAN (1864-1939) & FREDERICK DANIEL DONOVAN (1862-1943), OF 160 REGENT STREET, HULL. HE HAD THREE BROTHERS, EDWARD, FREDERICK AND HARRY AND SISTER, LAVINIA DONOVAN.
HE MARRIED AT HULL, IN 1916. HIS WIFE, NELLIE WESTOBY (1894-1972), LIVED AT 229, ALBERT AVENUE, HULL AND 32 KING’S ROAD, CANTON, CARDIFF. THEY HAD ONE SON, MICHAEL (1916-2001).
SEAMANS CERTIFICATE AWARDED 4TH AUGUST 1914. LOST ON THE STEAM SHIP “CITO”. DROWNED AT SEA, DUE TO A SUBMARINE ATTACK, ON 17TH MAY 1915, AGED 24. HIS NAME IS LISTED ON HULL’S TRINITY HOUSE MEMORIAL.
CITO: Wilsons & North Eastern Railway Shipping Co; 1899; Earle´s Co.; 819 tons; 219.1×30.1×16.5; 144 nhp; 9.5 knots; triple expansion engines. The steamship Cito was intercepted by German torpedo boat destroyers S-53 and V-73, 20 miles East of Noordhinder lightship on May 17th, 1917. The destroyers sank the steamship with gunfire. The captain and ten of the crew were killed.
PEOPLE ON BOARD SS ‘CITO’
1. DONOVAN, MICHAEL WELLS MORTIMER (24), Second Mate, Son of Frederick Daniel and Henrietta Donovan; husband of Nellie Donovan (nee Westoby), of 229, Albert Avenue, Hull.
2. HAIRE, JOHN THOMAS (37), Able Seaman, Son of Elizabeth Haire, and the late Galen Haire; husband of Mary Elizabeth Haire (nee Gardam), of 31, Glasgow St., Hull.
3. HESLEWOOD, EDWARD (15), Assistant Steward, Son of Amy Heslewood, of 1 Goddard Avenue, Newland, Hull, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
4. KEMP, GEORGE RICHARD (53), Able Seaman, Son of the late Richard and Maria Kemp; husband of Elizabeth Ann Kemp (Nee Knaggs), of 6, Botanic Place, Haniford Place, Hull.
5. KINGSTON, R , Fireman, Memorial: Noordwijk General Cemetery
6. MANSON, WILLIAM (42), Able Seaman, Husband of May Ann Manson (nee Woodcock), of 6, Jane St., Hull. Born at Mossbank, Shetland Isles, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
7. MEHEUX, ADOLPHUS DONALSON (40), Donkeyman, Son of John and Mary Meheux; husband of Agnes Meheux (nee Mawson), of 45, Waverley St., Hull. Born at Sierre Leone,
8. ORME, GEORGE WATSON (56), Master, Cito, Husband of Clementina Orme, of 11, Sunningdale Rd., New Brighton, Cheshire, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
9. OSBORNE, F C (18), Wireless Operator, S.S. Cito, Son of Frank Osborne, of Oak Villa, Glan Conway, North Wales. Born at Manchester,
10. STEPHENSON, ROBERT (36), Boatswain, Son of the late Robert and Kate Stephenson; Wife, Annie Elizabeth Stephenson (nee Megginson), of 1, Victoria Place, Waverley St., Hull.
11. THORNTON, ROBERT (45), Able Seaman, Son of the late Robert and Sarah Elizabeth Thornton; husband of Caroline Thornton (nee Sherar), of 57, Blake St., Hull. Born at Goole.
