Thomas William Storey
Thomas Luke Storey
Mary Jane Storey
H.M.S. Vanguard
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas William Storey, one of 6 children all of whom survived, was the eldest of 3 sons and had 1 elder and 2 younger sisters. His parents were both born in Northumberland, William Luke Storey in Whittingham in 1860 where he was baptised, September 9th, Mary Jane Elsdon in Shotley Low Quarter, March 25th 1862. They were married in the district of Lanchester, County Durham, February 4th 1889, daughter Marion Isabella was born in 1890 and the following year they were living at 13, Eltringham Street, Blackhill, where William was employed as a general labourer at the iron works. Over the next 10 years the remainder of their children were born, Thomas William in 1892, Wilfred, June 3rd 1894 in Shotley Low Quarter as was Elizabeth May in 1896, Ethel Maud 1898 and Norman 1901, at South Snods, Shotley Low Quarter, as their father was now a farmer for his own account. By 1911 he was assisted on the farm by his older children, Marion Isabella indoors, Thomas William (19) and Wilfred (16) worked outdoors, Thomas William in particular was a pony trainer. Elizabeth May (14) and Norman (11) remained at home with their mother, Ethel Maud (12) was a scholar.
When war was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914, there was a huge response to the call to arms, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their County. Soon the Army had formed all the regimental battalions it required, the surplus of men, mostly from northern country regiments, with the Royal Navy and Royal Marine Reservists formed the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. An idea of the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty it consisted of 8 battalions named after naval commanders, Drake, Benbow, Hawke, Collingwood, Nelson, Howe, Anson and Hood.
Thomas William Storey enlisted, September 2nd 1914, initially assigned as a Private to the Durham Light Infantry, he was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 63rd Royal Naval Division, September 7th, service number KitchenerX/557. The 63rd Division fought at Antwerp and Ostend, drafted to Howe Battalion attached to the 2nd Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, he then departed as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force for Egypt and Gallipoli, where they fought as infantry at Anzac and Helles battlefields, also during the 2nd and 3rd Battles of Krithia. Having fallen ill, September 29th 1915 he was hospitalised suffering from enteric infection, a severe gastric infection ranging from salmonella to typhoid, and invalided back to the U.K. October 24th 1915, fortunately he made a full recovery. When Thomas William took up service again he was sent on loan to the Royal Navy Barracks, Portsmouth, April 7th 1916 for sea-service.
Able Seaman Thomas William Storey took up service aboard the H.M.S. Vanguard, 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 crew.
Able Seaman Thomas William Storey, aged 25-years and single, 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 but was eventually protected as a war grave in 1984, diving on the wreck is generally forbidden.
His father received all monies due to his son, his awards of the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to his home address of South Snods Farm, Shotley Bridge, Consett, County Durham, also a pension of 5 shillings a week awarded June 18th 1919 backdated to November 16th 1918.
It should be noted his dependants pension card states his service number as KX558 and although Wilfred Storey was also eligible to serve during WW1, no records have been found.
When William Luke Storey (72) died, March 28th 1933 the war pension passed to his wife Mary Jane. His effects in the sum of £164 pounds were assigned to William Thompson and his son Wilfred, farmers.
In 1939 Mary Jane Storey was still living on the farm, now run by Wilfred, listed as a widower. He had married, presumably upon his return from the war, in 1919, to Georgina Y. Blyth, with whom he had a daughter, Joan M. Storey, born June 20th 1920, also residing in the household. Georgina had died in 1934.
Mary Jane Storey nee Elsdon (92) died in 1954, registered at Durham Western.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas William Storey is remembered in Shotley Low Quarter on S28.01 and on our List of Ships’ crews
