On Tower Hill Memorial is the name of Second Engineer Thomas Gilfoyle, serving on S.S. Ravensbourne (London) with the Mercantile Marine who died 31/01/1917.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Gilfoyle Jnr was one of 11 children of whom only 10 survived.
His father Thomas Gilfoyle Snr was born in Hartlepool in 1863 where he was married in 1885 to Mary McKee. Mary, who was born, February 24th 1867 at Hutchesontown, Glasgow, Scotland, at the age of 4 years was living in Hartlepool with her parents and siblings. Her parents Thomas McKee and Catherine Diamond both originated from Ireland, her father had found work at the shipyard as a holder up to a riveter.
Thomas and Mary Gilfoyle in 1891 were living with the Stafford family (2 adults and 3 children) at 91, High Street, Hartlepool, County Durham, with their 3 children, Joseph, born April 3rd 1886, Thomas Jnr 1888 and 6 month old Catherine born 1890, whom Thomas Snr supported employed as a labourer.
They had moved to 172, Durham Street by 1901, Thomas Snr was employed at the shipyards and Mary had her own business run from home as a general dealer of cast off clothes. Joseph (16) was a boot maker’s apprentice and Thomas (14) had found employment as a green grocer’s assistant, Mary had also given birth to a further 4 children, William 1892, Mary E. circa 1895, Arthur, June 22nd 1897 and Edward Diamond, who in 1901 was only 2 months old.
By 1911 their family was complete with the birth of John Smith Gilfoyle, Sarah Annie and James in 1902,1904 and 1909 respectively and they were living in 4 rooms at 137, Lynn Street, West Hartlepool. Thomas Snr was no longer employed at the shipyards but as a barman in a pub, his wife continued to run her second hand clothes business from home, Catherine (20) was a barmaid, William (19) a shipyard worker, the younger children with the exception of James were scholars, Joseph and Thomas Jnr had both left the family home.
The whereabouts of Thomas Gilfoyle Jnr in 1911 is unknown and in the absence of a war record it is impossible to follow his exact movements during WW!. It is highly probable that he enlisted in the Mercantile Marine prior to the commencement of war, August 14th 1914.
Thomas Gilfoyle was married in 1915 to Sarah Evelyne Warkcup who was the daughter of hotel manager Joseph Warkcup and his wife Sarah Ann. Their daughter Mary was born June 22nd 1915 and Lillian during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1917 after the demise of her father.
At the time of his demise Thomas Gilfoyle was serving as 2nd Engineer aboard the SS Ravensbourne owed by the South Metropolitan Gas Company, She was making her way from Newcastle to London laden with coal when she struck a mine, laid by UC 34, commanded by Otto Von Schrader and sank 8 miles SE of the mouth of the River Tyne, with the loss of 3 crew, January 31st 1917
2nd Engineer Thomas Gilfoyle Mercantile Marine was listed as missing, supposed to have been killed by the explosion or drowned, his body was never recovered. His sacrifice is recorded on the Tower Hill Memorial, south side of Trinity Square, London, which commemorates men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars and who have no known grave or were buried at sea where no permanent memorial could be raised. He was 29 years of age. Awards British War Medal and Mercantile Marine Medal.
His widow Sarah Evelyne remarried in 1921 at Hartlepool, County Durham, to ex-serviceman Private 4768 James Ainsley/Ainslie, Durham Light Infantry, born January 18th 1898 at Gateshead, historically in County Durham. In 1939 James was employed as a general labourer, Sarah Evelyne and Mary Gilfoyle were living at 29, Romaine Park, Hartlepool, County Durham, Lillian Gilfoyle was married.
Sarah Evelyne Ainsley/Ainslie-Gilfoyle nee Warkcup died in 1953, registered at Middlesbrough, historically in North Yorkshire, her widower James, February 11th 1963, at Hartlepool, County Durham.
Details of Thomas and Sarah Evelyne’s children.
Mary Gilfoyle was married to Roy William Dauncey in 1946. He was born in Greater London, July 24th 1918. Prior to their marriage he was living in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1965 they were living at, 38, Eastfields Road, Acton, west of London. Roy William Dauncey died in 2003 at Chiltern, Buckinghamshire, details as regards Mary Dauncey nee Gilfoyle as yet unknown.
Lillian Gilfoyle was married in 1939 to Alfred Slack, further details unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Gilfoyle is remembered at Hartlepool on H115.36, at West Hartlepool on W111.004, W111.046, W111.054 and in W111.086 page 16 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
