Person

Thomas Lee was born in Gateshead on 7 June 1874. His father was James William Lee (1842) a joiner originally from Dudley, Staffordshire. His mother was Mary Lee nee Devaney (1842), from Ireland. His parents married in Stowbridge, Worcestershire in 1860 and had children in Dudley, Liverpool and Bolton before Thomas was born in Gateshead where the couple settled and had more children.

In 1881, Thomas lived with his family in 14 Cowen Street, Gateshead. At the time of the 1891 census he was staying with his uncle in 6 New Houses, Broom, Durham. The 1911 census sees him aboard HMS Roxburgh in Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire.

Thomas joined the Royal Navy on 7 February 1896 to serve for 12 years. On 14 January 1909 he elected to continue serving until he reached retirement age and a pension. When he joined, his civilian occupation was a bargeman. He was given service number 282141 and the rank of stoker 2nd class. His record reports he was five feet 7 inches tall with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. It further notes he had tattoos showing ” Lee”, anchor and heart on his left forearm and a fish on his right forearm.

Thomas spent his first year in the navy at HMS Victory II before a short spell on HMS Royal Arthur from February to the end of March 1897. He was then posted to HMS Wallaroo, a pearl-class cruiser that was part of the auxiliary squadron of the Australia station. He spent an initial spell of two years on HMS Glory, a battleship on the China station. After a period of leave, he rejoined HMS Glory when it served in the Mediterranean fleet. Whilst aboard HMS Glory Thomas was promoted to Stoker 1st class on 1 July 1906.

Thomas joined the crew of the battlecruiser HMS Invincible on 16 May 1911. He served on board for almost two years until 31 December 1913 when he was posted to HMS Victory II. When war broke out he was assigned back to HMS Invincible on 3 August 1914 and promoted to acting leading stoker on 20 May 1916.

HMS Invincible was the flagship of the 3rd battlecruiser squadron in the Grand Fleet. On 31 May 1916 the squadron acted as the fleet’s heavy scouting force during the Battle of Jutland. She was destroyed by a midships magazine explosion after her ‘Q’ turret was penetrated, effectively blowing the ship in half. She is reported to have sunk within 90 seconds. Thomas was lost in this action along with 1,026 officers and crewmen. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. He was 41 years old when he died and had served 20 years in the Royal Navy.

Thomas Lee was awarded the Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Gateshead

Birth date: 07-Jun-1874

Death date: 31-May-1916

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 14 Cowen Street, Gateshead (1881 census)
6 New Houses, Broom, Durham (1891 census)
HMS Roxburgh, Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire (1911 census)

Employment: Bargeman (1896 Royal Navy record)

Family: Parents: James William Lee (1842), Mary Lee nee Devaney (1842)
Siblings: Matilda Lee, William Lee, Joseph Lee, Mary Ellen Lee, Julia Lee, John Lee

Military service:

282141
Stoker 2nd class, 7 February 1896
Stoker 1st class, 1 July 1906
Acting leading stoker, 20 May 1916
HMS Wallaroo, 1897-1900
HMS Glory, 1903-1909
HMS Roxburgh, 1910-1911
HMS Invincible, 1911- 31 May 1916

Medal(s): Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham