Headstone for 3 HMS Viknor unknown crew
IIustrated Chronicle 26/01/1915
HMS Viknor
John William Thompson was born at Heron Street, South Shields, Durham on the 17th December 1876, baptised at St Hilda's on the 25th August 1880. His father Samuel Thompson, born 1824, Sheffield, was a labourer at an Iron Works who married Isabella Thompson, who was born 1836 in Sunderland. They had six children, but one died, Mary, born 1868, Eliza, born 1871, Joseph, born 1875, and Frederick born September, 1880, at South Shields.
John William was a general labourer and in 1891 the family were now residing at Forrest Hill, South Shields. John was married on the 10th March 1900 to Margaret Spence, born 27th May 1879. They resided at 28 Johnson's Hill, South Shields. John now employed as a Coal Miner.
By 1911 they had five children, Edith Isabella born 1901, died 1975, John William Thompson born 1903, Margaret born 25th February 1906, Mary Ann born 1908, and Ethel born 1910.
John became a Dock Labourer and the family were now residing at 18 Rekendyke Lane, South Shields.
John when he signed on for the Viknor was residing at 8 Wilson Street, South Shields.
John was one of the crew members of the HMS Viknor, part of the (10th Cruiser) Squadron, which sunk with all of its crew on the 13th January 1915 by a mine which had been laid by the vessel Berlin.
His body was never recovered or identified like many of his fellow crew members.
Also on board the Viknor were eight Germans who had been taken prisoner when SS Bergensfjord was captured on January 11th 1915. These included Graf Hans Adam Wedell and Dr. Rasmus Bjornstad. Wedell was a high level German spy traveling from New York to Germany. It is unclear who Bjornstad was or if this was even his real name. The other (unnamed) six Germans were stowaways and suspected to be traveling to Germany to join the war effort.
Source: Maritime Quest with thanks.
The Viknor commenced signing on her mercantile marine crew on the 2nd December. She completed articles on the 22nd and left the Tyne on the evening of the 28th.
Naval History WW1. Official Account.“VIKNOR, armed merchant cruiser, 13 January 1915, Atlantic off N Ireland - ex-Viking or The Viking, ex-cruise ship, 5,386grt, built 1888, Viking Cruise Co, 15kts, hired 19/11/14, Pendant No.M.82, 10th CS Grand Fleet, Cdr Ernest Ballantyne, most northerly ship on Northern Patrol line B north of the Shetlands. On the 11th, at around 62N, 02.24W, intercepted Norwegian SS Bergensfiord carrying an important German secret service agent and other nationals from New York, Viknor ordered to put prize crew on board, escort the Norwegian ship towards Lerwick, then continue on to Liverpool with a total of eight German prisoners. Last message from Viknor on 13th (He – off Malin Head; ss - at 1600 in 56.18N, 09W, course S21ºW), nothing more was heard of her. Probably 13th - Believed sunk off Northern Ireland by one of Berlin's mines broken free by heavy gales off Tory Island (Rn - foundered in heavy weather; C - Wrecked on north coast of Ireland), wreckage and bodies washed ashore at Portrush; 294 lives lost - 22 officers, 196 ratings, 74 MN and 1 canteen staff plus prisoners, no survivors (He – 259, ke - 295) (H/J/Rn/C/D/bi/dk/gf/ke/ss; ADM.137/185, ADM.116/1442)”.
In 1939, John's widow Margaret, was residing at 12 Wilson Street, South Shields, residing with John R. Thompson, born 18th November, 1920, who was working at St Hilda's Colliery as a coal miner underground, and Margaret Morgan, [nee Thompson] born 25th February 1906, her married daughter.
In 2006 the survey ship Celtic Explorer located the wreck of HMS Viknor, according to Dr Ian Lawler, the wreck is located on the outer edge of a minefield laid by SMS Berlin which lends some credibility to the theory that she could have hit a mine, but at this time there is still no definitive answer as to the cause of the loss.
Research: Cynthia Kent /James Pasby
John William Thompson is remembered in South Shields on S86.115, in S86.086 page 15, S86.132 also in our ships crew list
Official History of Naval Operations Vol II (NEW)
The Merchant History of the Navy in WW1
H.M.S. Viknor Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for Fireman Thompson