Lost on the steamship Benlarig,which sailedfrom Freemantle on April 2nd, 1917, bound for Columbo with a cargo of bagged wheat, but was not heard from again.
Robert was born 1889 in Hartlepool the son of John George Coverdale and Margaret Coverdale (nee Smith), and was Christened at Holy Trinity Church, Hartlepool on 18 Dec 1889. His father was a Marine Engineer from South Shields, and Robert was described as a Fitter in marine engineering. He had 5 known siblings and in 1891 was living in Durham Street, Hartlepool. Census records for 1901 and 1911 show the family living at 108, Sandringham Road, West Hartlepool. In his will Robert left £97-13-4d to his sister Ethel Coverdale, a spinster.
