Thomas Aitken (1872-1916)
South Shields man served in the Royal Naval Reserve aboard HMS Queen Mary at the Battle of Jutland
Thomas Aitken was born on 9 June 1872 in South Shields. His father was Thomas Aitken (1844-1921) from North Shields who was first a seaman and then a general dealer. His mother was Elizabeth Ann Aitken nee Thompson (1845-1903) from South Shields. His parents married in South Shields in 1893 and there are records of seven children; four girls and three boys. Thomas was the fourth child and second son.
In 1881, Thomas lived with his parents and siblings in East Holborn, South Shields. He became a fireman on steamers in the Merchant Navy which used that term to mean a stoker. He married Annie Aitken nee Dryden (1874-1947) in South Shields in 1893 and they had eight children of which six were surviving at the time of the 1911 census; three girls and three boys. The family were living at 3 Urwin’s Court, Laygate Street, South Shields at this time.
Thomas was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) which was a reserve of professional seamen from the merchant navy and fishing fleets who could be called upon during times of war to serve in the regular Royal Navy. His RNR service number is 1612U where the ‘U’ suffix indicates he was in his third term of enrolment in the RNR where each term of enrolment lasted five years.
When war broke out Thomas was mobilised into service as a stoker on the Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary. The ship put to sea on 31 May 1916 to take part in the Battle of Jutland. She came under fire and one shell hit and detonated one or both of the forward magazines, which broke the ship in two near the foremast. A further explosion, possibly from shells breaking loose, shook the aft end of the ship as it began to roll over and sink. A total of 1,266 crewmen including Thomas were lost in the sinking.
Thomas died at the age of 44 years old. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial. He is also remembered in his home town in the Roll of Honour, Holy Trinity School, South Shields and the Street Memorial 1914-18, West Holborn, South Shields.
Thomas Aitken was awarded the Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: South Shields
Birth date: 09-Jun-1872
Death date: 31-May-1916
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: East Holborn, South Shields (1881 and 1891 census)
3 Urwin’s Court, Laygate Street, South Shields (1911 census)
Education: Holy Trinity Boys School, South Shields
Employment: Fireman (stoker on a steamer) (1911 census)
Family: Parents: Thomas Aitken (1844-1921), Elizabeth Ann Aitken nee Thompson (1845-1903)
Siblings: Hannah Aitken, Martha Aitken, Bella Aitken, Ethel Aitken, Thompson Aitken, Frederick Aitken
Spouse: Annie Aitken nee Dryden (1874-1947)
Children: Thomas Aitken, Katie Aitken, William Aitken, Lizzie Ann Aitken, Margaret Dew Aitken, Harold S Aitken
Military service:
1612 U (Ch)
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Queen Mary, 1914-1916
Medal(s): Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Roll of Honour, Holy Trinity School, South Shields
Street Memorial 1914-18, West Holborn, South Shields
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
