On Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, is the name of Lieutenant Thomas Cook serving on H.M.P.M.S. Queen of the North with the Royal Naval Reserve who died 20/07/1917.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following;
Thomas Cook was the eldest of 7 children, 6 of whom were born before 1911.
His parent Charles Cook and Isabella Annison were both natives of Sunderland, historically in County Durham, born in 1870 and 1868 respectively. They were married in the district of Sunderland in 1888.
Thomas Cook was born at Sunderland, September 7th 1888, his brother Charles Jnr, November 4th 1890. The family resided at 26, Burlington Road, Hendon in 1891 as Charles Cook Snr was employed as a waterman (barge). August 13th 1892 Isabella gave birth to their daughter Elizabeth Ann followed by John, January 4th 1900.
They had moved to 9, Addison Street, in the town of Sunderland by 1901 and Charles Cook was now a sea going mariner. Isabella Annison Cook and William Forster Cook were born, July 1st 1902 and March 14th 1905 respectively. While the remainder of the family occupied 6 rooms at 5, Finchale Terrace, and Isabella gave birth to their youngest child, Robert, October 15th 1912, Thomas Cook had left the family home and joined the Merchant Navy.
When Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany, August 4th 1914, he was living at Crosby Terrace, Sunderland. Seaman Mate Thomas Cook was married at Thornhill Church, Burn Park Road, Sunderland, August 10th 1914, to Rhoda Sarah Oliphant who was the daughter of gardener John Oliphant (deceased) and Elizabeth Ann Forster living at Hawarden Crescent, Sunderland, born January 18th 1887.
Thomas Cook upon his enlistment was assigned to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Sub Lieutenant for the duration of the war only. His engagement for 5 voyages aboard the “Tonawanda” owned by the Anglo American Oil Company, ran from September 9th 1914 until June 1st 1915, he then transferred to His Majesty’s Paddle Minesweeper. (H.M.P.M.S.) Queen of the North.
April 5th 1916 Thomas and Rhoda Sarah’s only child Thomas Douglas Cook was born.
H.M.P.M.S. Queen of the North was a paddle-steam ship built by John Laird & Sons, Birkenhead, for the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Company. She was requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1916 as a minesweeper.
On July 20th 1917 Queen of the North was on patrol northeast of the Shipwash lightship when she hit a mine laid by the German submarine UB-4 (Erich Hecht) and sank.
Rhoda received a letter at her home address of 45, Hawarden Crescent, dated July 21st 1917 from the Admiralty, London, S.W. 1, which reads, “In confirmation of Admiralty telegram, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that a telegram has been received stating that your husband, Acting Lieutenant Thomas Cook, R. N. R. was killed on the 20th instant, as a result of the vessel in which he was serving being blown up by a mine.
2. My Lords desire to express to you their deep regret at receiving this intelligence, and their profound sympathy in the loss which you have sustained.
3. A form of application for a widow’s pension is enclosed.
I am, Madam, Your obedient Servant.”
Acting Lieutenant Thomas Cook was one of 29 crew member who perished. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 18,648 names inscribed on Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, which stands in the form of an oblique in the town of Chatham, commemorating members of the Royal Navy who died during WW1 and WW2 who have no known grave or where no pennant memorial could be raised. He was 28 years of age.
Rhoda Cook did not remarry, in 1939 she was living at 140, Fulwells Road, Sunderland, with Mary Jackson who was born April 10th 1920 and married her son Thomas Douglas Cook during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1939. Thomas Douglas Cook in 1939 was living at Avenue Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire. employed as a, “helper on lathe aluminium scaffolding.”
After their marriage Thomas and Mary moved to Banbury taking his mother with them. Rhoda Sarah Cook nee Oliphant died in 1956 aged 70 years, registered at Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Mary gave birth to daughters Sylvia in 1940 and Maureen P. Cook, who was born in 1944. The latter married John M. Tyroe and was living at Banbury in 2018.
Thomas Douglas Cook died in 1950, Mary Cook nee Jackson in 1977, both registered at Banbury, Oxfordshire.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Cook is remembered at Hendon on H123.02, at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 8 page 153 in our List of Ships’ Crews.
