Colin Boyd has provided the following:
Robert was born in South Shields on 7th August 1876 to Robert and Sarah Thompson. When he enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve on 17th January 1899 he was living at 12, George Street, South Shields and working as a labourer at St. Hilda's Colliery.
By the time of the 1911 Census Robert was living at 146, Alfred Street, South Shields with his wife, Florence, daughter Ruby aged 8, son Robert aged 7 and daughter Elizabeth aged 3 and he was working as a dockyard labourer.
Robert was called up on the 18th August 1914 and was posted to H.M.S. Aboukir. He was lost when the vessel was torpedoed off the Belgian Coast on 22nd September 1914.
Robert Thompson is remembered on our List of Ships’ crews
