On Portsmouth Naval Memorial is the name of SS/114147 Stoker 1st Class Thomas Reed, serving on H.M.S. Bulwark with the Royal Navy who died 26/11/1914.

The son of Elizabeth Jane Reed and the late Robert Reed. He was a native of Wallsend on Tyne.

Colin Boyd has provided the following:

Thomas was born on July 2nd 1894 in Wallsend to Thomas Reed, a riveter, and his wife Elizabeth Jane.  In 1901 Thomas was living with his parents, two brothers and one sister at 47, Buddle Street, Wallsend.

By 1911 the family were living at 30, Holly Avenue, Wallsend and Thomas (jnr.) was employed as an apprentice driller.

Thomas joined the Royal Navy on June 12th 1913 when he was described as being 5 feet 4inches tall with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Thomas was lost on November 26th 1914 when HMS Bulwark was totally destroyed by an internal explosion at Sheerness with the loss of 792 lives.

Thomas Reed is remembered at Cullercoats on C68.01 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.

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