Thomas was born on 8th October 1892, in Bandon, Cork, Ireland to parents Robert and Mary. On the 1901 Ireland census Thomas was recorded aged 9, at 29 Chapel Street, Tallow, Waterford, Ireland with his Grandmother and two Aunts. 10 years followed and he was again recorded living with his Aunts, at 22 Chapel Street, Tallow.
He joined the Navy on the outbreak of war, leaving his job as a pork butcher and beginning training as a probationary Sick Berth Attendant on 11th August 1914 at HMS PEMBROKE I. He left the Chatham base and furthered his training at Chatham Hospital on 10th October 1914, passing for S.B.A on 11th August 1915. He was posted to his only ship, HMS VANGUARD, on 2nd July 1916, serving almost a year aboard the dreadnought before he was killed aged 26.
His mother was awarded his pension after his death, his Victory and British war medals were claimed by his father.
(#47 - 360/843)
Sources:
1901 & 1911 Ireland Census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 1034
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
Ireland, Casualties of World War I, 1914-1922
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/8; Scan Number: 0740
CWGC Register
WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 749/13D
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 008 (1914 - 1919)
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 104
Photo courtesy of Jean Prendergast.