In St. Peter’s Churchyard is the Commonwealth War Grave which reads:

T. Hastings
Refrigerator Greaser
S.S. “Tacoma Star”
3rd May 1941 Age 61.

The son of William and Mary Hastings, of South Shields.

Thomas Hastings was born in 1880.

In 1911, he was residing with his parents at 10 Nora Street, South Shields, also with his brother Leonard Hastings.

S.S. Tacoma Star was a steamship of 7924grt which was struck by a high explosive bomb in the [Liverpool Blitz] on the 3rd May 1941, when Thomas Hastings was the only casualty.

The ship sunk but was later salvaged. The Tacoma Star finally was sunk on Sunday, 1st February 1942 U-109 sank the steamer TACOMA STAR (7924grt) at 37-33N, 69-21W. Commanded by Korvettenkapitn Heinrich Bleichrodt.

The entire crew of 85 were lost.

Sources: Liverpool 70 years on with thanks.

Thomas Hastings is remembered at Westoe in W101.08 page 37 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.