On Chatham Naval Memorial is the name of 1612U, 1612A and T1095 Stoker Thomas Aitken, serving on H.M.S. Queen Mary with the Royal Naval Reserve who died 31/05/1916.
The son of Thomas and Eliza Aitken, of South Shields and the husband of Annie Aitken, of 3, Urwin’s Court, Laygate Street, South Shields.
Thomas Aitken the second son and the fourth child, was born on the 9th June 1872, in South Shields, one of eight children to Thomas Aitken, born North Shields in 1844, a seaman, then a general dealer, died 1921, and his wife Elizabeth Ann Aitken, nee Thompson, born 1845, South Shields died 1903. However two of the children died. The other children were Hannah, born 1866, {she married in 19OO Frank Zaganonsky, a Polish Russian born 1864, they both emigrated to the USA, Frank in 1914 with Hannah following in 1915}, Robina, born 1867, baptised 6th February 1867, married John George Long in 1888, Martha Best, born 1870, (married John William Barnwell, born 1872, on the 22nd August 1892 at St Hilda’s Church), Isabella, ‘Bella’, born 1876, Ethel M, born 1879, married in 1919 Alfred Blues, Thompson born 1881, died 1894 and Frederick, born 1887. Ten years later, Thomas was residing with his parents, four sisters and one brother in East Holborn, South Shields. In 1871 Thomas and his wife were residing at 9 Nelson Hill, Westoe, South Shields with two children Hannah and Robina.
Thomas was educated at the Holy Trinity Church of England Boys School from the 8th December 1884 to the 9th March 1885. Thomas married on the 25th December 1893, Annie Dryden, born 8th August 1874, died 1947. [She was the eldest daughter of eight children of William Dryden, born 1850 and his wife Catherine Dryden, born 1852, they were residing at 124 Edith Street in 1891, in 1881 they were residing at Wellington Street, South Shields].
Thomas and Annie had eight children George, born 16th June 1911, died 1981, married Gladys Delaney in 1946, William Dryden, born 18th August 1900, baptised 2nd September 1900 at St Hilda’s, South Shields, he served in the Merchant Marine from about 1918, in 1928 he married Catherine Wales, [in 1939, a Foy boatman, he was widowed, residing with a daughter at school, Nancy Anne Aitken, born 14th May 1929, and two other children at 103 Henry Street, South Shields], Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Ann Thompson, born 11th June 1903, died 1995, Margaret Dew, born 18th April 1907, Thomas born 14th July 1894, baptised 5th August 1894 at St Hilda’s church, [he served in WW1 and survived and became a naturalised USA citizen, marrying Mary Elsie Tillberry, on the 29th January 1923], died 23rd August 1957 and Kate, born 18th July 1896, baptised at St Hilda’s church 23rd August 1896, died in 1988, [she married Joseph Newby Stocks, born 6th November 1896, died 1961, in 1921, in 1939 they wee residing at 10 Palmerston Street, South Shields with two children, an Annie Stocks, born 21st July 1919, who married a Ferguson and Mary Jane Curry Stocks, born 3rd September 1922, died 1995. Two other children had died. Thomas had joined the Royal Naval Reserve which was a reserve of professional seamen from the merchant navy and fishing fleets who could be called upon during times of war to serve in the regular Royal Navy. His RNR service number was 1612U where the ‘U’ suffix indicates he was in his third term of enrolment in the RNR where each term of enrolment lasted five years. His pension award shows his final number as 1612A 1st class.
In 1911, he is residing at 3, Urwins Court, Laygate, South Shields with his wife Annie, three daughters and three sons. In 1911 Thomas is listed as a sea going fireman which could account for the census gaps. Thomas had become a fireman/stoker in the Merchant Navy, and he was receiving 30s a month. He served on board the SS Brook, ship number 120682, the Barmoor, ship number 129731 and the Rouen, ship number 127438 before the War.
Thomas had enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve on the 20th January 1904 when he was described as being 5 feet 6 and a quarter inches tall, with blue eyes and a fair complexion. He trained on various land based depots HMS Victorious, from the 1st December 1908 to the 28th December 1908, also another 28 days at HMS Magnificent, 20th November 1910 to the 22nd December. Thomas was called up on the 3rd August 1914 and posted to HMS Queen Mary. Thomas was lost on the 31st May 1916 when HMS Queen Mary exploded and sank during the early stages of the Battle of Jutland with the loss of 1266 officers and ratings.
Annie was awarded a Naval pension from the 30th November 1916 of 27 shillings a week. In 1939 she was widowed and Incapacitated and was residing at 12 Palmerston Street, South Shields. She died in 1947.
Acknowledgements: Colin Boyd/Barney Rice/James Hoy Archive.
Thomas Aitken is remembered at South Shields on S86.039, in S86.081, page 1 and in S86.082, page 3 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
