Headstone for 3 HMS Viknor unknown crew
Illustrated Chronicle 26/01/1915
In Memorium
Thomas Clark was born on the 21st October 1877, his father, Peter was 44 and his mother Ann (nee Griffin), was 36. He was baptised on 9th February 1881 at Our Blessed Lady Immaculate Church in Washington, County Durham.
His parents, Peter and Ann married on the 27th February 1859 at St Robert’s Church in Morpeth, Northumberland. Thomas was the fifth child of Peter and Ann and his brothers and sisters were: John born 1860–; Margaret Clark born 1867–; Catherine Clark (1872–1928); Ellen Clark born 1876–; Mary Jane Clark born 1881– and Elizabeth Clark born 1883–.
They were residing at Old Hall, Bedlington in April 1861, just after the birth of their eldest son John born 1860; also lodging with them was Ann’s brother Thomas Griffin, born 1842 aged 19. Peter and Thomas were both coal miners.
Ann and Peter had another child in 1867, a daughter, Margaret; by 1871 Peter is away working as a coalminer and is lodging at Sleetburn Colliery, Brandon & Byshottles in Durham. They had daughters Catherine (1872–1928); Ellen born 1876–; during the 1870s; and of course their son Thomas in 1877. During the 1880s their family increased with the addition of another two daughters, Mary Jane Clark 1881 and Elizabeth born 1883.
In April 1881 the family were living at Allison's Buildings, Washington; however, there is no sign of Ann living with them that year. By the 1891 census both parents are living in 22 Smithy Street, South Shields with only Thomas, Ellen, Mary Jane and Elizabeth at home.
Thomas married Mary Ann Stephenson at St Aidan's Church, South Shields on 19 August 1901 when he was 23 years old. They had two children during their marriage, a son Thomas, born on 21 February 1904; and a daughter, Norah, born in July 1909. Mary Ann and her two children, Thomas and Norah were residing at 5 North Lane, South Shields in 1911. Mary Ann is working as a Fish Hawker (fish wife) with her own business and has been married 9 years.
His wife and family in 1915 were residing at 23 Laygate Street, South Shields, Durham. The Shields Gazette reported his address as 23 Hill Street, at the time of the Viknor sailing 28th December 1914, from the Tyne.
Thomas 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.
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 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.
Thomas Clark is remembered in South Shields on S86.129 and on List of Ships’ crews.
Official History of Naval Operations Vol II (NEW)
Complement list of HMS Viknor crew
HMS Viknor Roll of Honour
H.M.S. Viknor Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for Fireman Clark