On Portsmouth Naval Memorial is the name of M/19432 Carpenter’s Crew Thomas Lumsdon, serving on H.M.S. Vanguard with the Royal Navy who died 09/07/1917.
He was the son of Thomas and Ann Lumsdon, of 7, Noble Street, Felling on Tyne.
Son of Thomas and Ann Lumsdon, of 7, Noble St., Felling-on-Tyne.
In Heworth (St.Mary) Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:
Of your charity pray for the soul of
Ann
the beloved wife of
Thomas Lumsdon
and daughter of
Michael & Ann Kelly, of Felling,
who died July 22nd 1913,
aged 48 years.
Also Thomas Lumsdon
dearly beloved son of the above
lost on H.M.S. Vanguard
July 9th 1917, aged 17 years.
The above Thomas Lumsdon
died June 1st 1949, aged 86 years
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
Thomas Lumsdon was born December 22nd 1889 at Felling, Gateshead, historically in County Durham, one of 4 children he was the second born of 3 sons and a daughter. His father Thomas Lumsdon Snr and mother Ann (Annie) Kelly, both natives of Felling were born in 1863 and married at Gateshead in 1884. In 1891, living at 3, Pottery Yard, Thomas Snr was employed as an engineman, ten years later the family was complete and had moved to Caroline Street, he was working as a bargeman, along with his brother Edward Lumsdon who boarded with them.
In 1910 his wife Annie died aged 47 years, by 1911 Thomas and his children had moved to 7, Noble Street, Felling. He and son John (17) were boatmen, Edward (25) was employed as an engine fitter, Thomas Jnr (17) as a joiner at the shipyard, daughter Annie was a house keeper at home.
During WW1 Thomas Lumsdon served aboard H.M.S. Vanguard as Carpenter’s Crew, service number M/19432. H.M.S. Vanguard was 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 members.
Carpenter’s Crew M/19432 Thomas Lumsdon 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 after the war, but was eventually protected as a war grave in 1984, diving on the wreck is generally forbidden.
Thomas’s sister Annie was the next of kin informed of his death, his awards of the British War medal and Victory Medal were sent to her at 7, Noble Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Thomas Lumsdon Snr died at Gateshead in 1949 aged 86 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/08/1917 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads:
Thomas Lumsden, lost on H.M.S. Vanguard, July 9th, aged 27 years. Son of Thomas and the late Ann Lumsden, 9 Noble Street, Felling.
Thomas Lumsdon is remembered at Felling on F32.06 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
