Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/08/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
Thomas Lumsdon was born December 22nd 1889 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, one of 4 children he was the second born of 3 sons and a daughter. His father Thomas Lumsdon Snr and mother Ann (Annie) Kelly, both natives of Felling were born in 1863 and married at Gateshead in 1884. In 1891, living at 3, Pottery Yard, Thomas Snr was employed as an engineman, ten years later the family was complete and had moved to Caroline Street, he was working as a bargeman, along with his brother Edward Lumsdon who boarded with them. In 1910 his wife Annie died aged 47 years, by 1911 Thomas and his children had moved to 7, Noble Street, Felling. He and son John (17) were boatmen, Edward (25) was employed as an engine fitter Thomas Jnr (17) as a joiner at the shipyard, daughter Annie was a house keeper at home.
During WW1 Thomas Lumsdon served aboard H.M.S. Vanguard as Carpenter’s Crew, service number M/19432. H.M.S. Vanguard was one of three St. Vincent dreadnought battleships built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She spent her whole career assigned to the Home and Grand Fleets also participating in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and the inconclusive Action of 19th August. Her service during the war generally consisted of routine patrols and training in the North Sea.
Shortly before midnight on July 9th 1917, at Scapa Flow, H.M.S.Vanguard suffered a series of magazine explosions. She sank almost instantly, with the loss of 843 of the 845.
Carpenter’s Crew M/19432 Thomas Lumsdon perished along with his ship. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the names inscribed on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, commemorating members of the Royal Navy from both World Wars who have no known grave, having perished at sea where no permanent memorial could be raised.
The wreck of H.M.S. Vanguard was heavily salvaged after the war, but was eventually protected as a war grave in 1984, diving on the wreck is generally forbidden.
Thomas’s sister Annie was the next of kin informed of his death, his awards of the British War medal and Victory Medal were sent to her at 7, Noble Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Thomas Lumsdon Snr died at Gateshead in 1949 aged 86 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/08/1917 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads:
“Thomas Lumsden, lost on H.M.S. Vanguard, July 9th, aged 27 years. Son of Thomas and the late Ann Lumsden, 9 Noble Street, Felling.”
Thomas Lumsdon is remembered in Felling on F32.06 and on our List of Ships’ crews
Note the variations in the spelling of the name.
