On Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London is the name of Second Engineer Thomas Richardson serving on S.S. Myrtle Branch with the Mercantile Marine who died 11/04/1918.
He was the son of Francis and Elizabeth Richardson (formerly Proud), of 3, Ivanhoe Crescent, Sunderland. He was born at Sunderland.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following;
One of 9 children of whom only 8 are known by name and 6 survived to adulthood, Thomas Richardson, was the 2nd born son of Francis Richardson and Elizabeth Proud, natives of Sunderland, historically in County Durham, born in 1847 and 1857 respectively.
Francis and Elizabeth were married at St. Peter, Bishopwearmouth, January 7th 1876. His wife’s first two pregnancies ended very tragically. Francis Richardson Jnr was born during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1876 and John William Richardson during the first quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1878, both their sons died during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1878. Francis Jnr was 1 year old, John William between 4-6 months old.
In 1881 the couple were living at 21, Littlegate, Sunderland, with their daughter Alice Ann who was born September 10th 1879. Francis supported his family as a house painter. Ten years later he had his own business as a painter and paper hanger and was also the proud father to a further 4 children. Thomas Richardson was born in 1882, Eleanor, April 9th 1885, Swainston Harrison, November 14th 1887 who was baptised at St. Peter, Bishopwearmouth, December 11th, Harriet, October 19th 1889, also baptised at St. Peter, November 17th 1889. The youngest of their surviving children, Mary Ann, was born in 1894.
In 1891 they had been living at Crow Terrace but Francis had transferred his family by 1901 to 3, Ivanhoe Crescent, Sunderland, which consisted of 7 rooms. Alice Ann (21) assisted her mother in the running of the household, Thomas Richardson (18) was studying engineering, Eleanor (15) was employed as a stocking maker, Swainston (12), Harriet (10) and Mary Ann (6) were scholars,
Francis, Elizabeth and 3 of heir daughters were still living at Ivanhoe Crescent in 1911. Alice Ann had emigrated to the U.S.A. where she married John William Cummings in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, September 30th 1903. John William Cummings was born in the village of Browney, near Meadowfield, County Durham, June 21st 1878.
Swainston Harrison Richardson (24) in 1911 was employed as a shop assistant at a grocer’s shop and was living as a boarder in the 3 roomed home of widow Maggie Johnson at Whitefield, Broom Hill, in the village of Acklington, Northumberland. Maggie’s two sons were employed as miners.
The exact whereabouts of 29 year old Thomas Richardson is unknown but he may have already joined the Mercantile Marine.
As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany which was declared within hours of Germany, as part of a massive attack on France, invaded Belgium violating Belgian neutrality. After a request to Britain by the Belgians for help, London gave Berlin an ultimatum which expired August 4th 1914 at 11 p.m. London time. When this was ignored, King George V then declared war on Germany that same evening.
During WW1 Thomas Richardson served with the Mercantile Marine. In 1918 he was serving as 2nd Engineer Thomas Richardson, S.S. Myrtle Branch (Sunderland) of the Mercantile Marine. Built at Sunderland by J. L. Thompson & Sons she was operated by Nautilus Steam Shipping Co., Ltd. (F. & W. Ritson), Sunderland.
The ship had set sail, March 28th 1918 from Colonel and Newport News near Hampton Roads, Virginia, U.S.A. bound for Liverpool with general cargo and mineral ores. She was sunk by the German UB-73 (Karl Neureuther), 9 miles NE by N off Inishtrahull, the most northerly island of Ireland, with the loss of 15 persons, including 2nd Engineer Thomas Richardson, April 11th 1918. He was 35 years of age and single.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of 36,059 names inscribed on Tower Hill Memorial which stands on the south side of the garden of Trinity Square, London, commemorating men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars and have no known grave.
Thomas’ loss came just 11 days after the death of his brother Battery Quarter Master Sergeant Swainston Harrison Richardson R.F.A. in France.
The loss of their two sons was a heavy burden to bear for Francis and Elizabeth. Elizabeth Richardson nee Proud (61) died during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1918, yet another tragedy for the Richardson family.
Widower and retired painter and decorator Francis Richardson (74) in 1921 was living at 3, Ivanhoe Crescent with his unmarried daughter Eleanor (36). Francis Richardson died at Sunderland in 1925.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Richardson is remembered at Hendon on H123.02, at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 8 page 177 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
