Thomas Douglas
Royal Naval Reserve

Thomas was born in 1875 in ‘The Square’ Beadnell. The square was a collection of 12 houses which stood on the land south of the shop on Harbour Road. They were demolished in the late thirties. He attended the local school which, in those days was situated in what now is ‘Crewe House’ just along from this church. Crewe House is now occupied by Catherine Petty (nee Douglas) and her husband Colin. Catherine is Thomas’s great niece. He was one of nine children born to his parents John and Frances. Like his father he started life as a fisherman and sailed on the first ‘Golden Gate’

He was married to Ellen and they had four children, one of whom died aged one. Their two sons never married and are buried in Beadnell Cemetery.

Aged 40 he joined the Royal Naval Reserve in January 1915. He was sent to the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham for training and was also employed in deploying booms for port protection. He was posted to serve on the commandeered liner, the R.M.S. Campania. The Campania was a Cunard ship which, at the time of her launch in 1892 was the fastest liner afloat. She was converted with the addition of a flight deck to launch seaplanes and it was during her trials in 1915 that Thomas was to join this vessel.

Sadly he caught ‘a cold’ just six weeks after leaving home and, as he gradually weakened, was hospitalised at Chatham. His condition worsened further and he was sent home to Beadnell where he died at home with his family on May 2 1915, aged 40.

He is buried, with his wife, in Beadnell Cemetery and is remembered in this church.

A transcript of a letter Thomas wrote to his brother Bill shortly after arriving at Chatham:

2 Block G 2 room 154 Mess
Royal Naval Barracks
Chatham Feb 1st 1915
Dear Bill
I am writing these few lines to let you know that I am keeping all right. Who do you think I have seen you remember the little Coast Guard that was at our place before the present one. Anst is his name. When he heard that a Beadnell man was here he sought me out and you may depend he was glad to see me he asked after everybody Raffy as well as the rest. He said he is coming to Beadnell for a holiday after the war. He was on the Hermies that was sunk by Torpedo you mind. He is in the barracks now training recruits. He has been very kind to me. I am drafted to the Campania. I wish I was away. I miss the Sea too much here but there is a lot of rigmarole to go through. I passed the doctor at Berwick, passed again here when I came and I will have to pass again before I go away. I would like to go but still at the same time I do not care, I would rather haul creaves any day. I have met several men I know. Mostly Spittalers. Jim Young of Berwick was here in our mess. He is a canny chap. He was good to me, but he has gone away today on board a trawler. The life here may do very well for them that’s used to it but, my, it is hell for them that is used to village life. If I could only turn deaf. There is nothing but oaths. I never thought there was such foul tongued beings in my life.

But never you fret for me, the God that has kept us so far will still keep me pure. I often wonder how you are all getting on among the crabs. I wrote Ellen last night. I have never had a letter yet. You might write by return and I might get it you see we never know for a day, but write by return. You have to tell everybody that I met Anst the Coast Guard. Tell Jimmy and Annie that I am all right now. I will write again as soon as I know what I am going to do so Good Night. Oh! I forgot, tell me how you got on with the figures in the Fish Book. I hope they are all right as I would not like any body else to get it. I saw H Buglass at Berwick and he said it was all right. I hope you succeed, give Jack a crab.

Your loving brother
Thos Douglas

Thomas Douglas is remembered at Beadnell on B10.01 and B10.02

There is no CWGC entry for Thomas Douglas.