David Killen alias Thomas Ford (1897-1916)
South Shields man served in the Royal Navy after serving in the Army under an alias
David was born on 9 September 1897 in South Shields as David Killen Southern. His mother was Emma Jane Southern (1879-1953), a South Shields fish worker. In 1899 Emma married Robert Killen (1871-1915), a general labourer from South Shields. There were three children born to this marriage made up of two girls and one boy. In 1901 the Killen family lived at 3 Portberry Street, South Shields and by the time of the 1911 census had moved to 19 Windmill Hill, South Shields.
At the outbreak of war David would have been 16 years old. It is possible that he may have lied about his name and age in order to join up. His Royal Navy service record shows that he joined the Navy aged 18 on 29 February 1916 to serve for the duration of hostilities. He was given the service number K31082 and the rating of stoker 2nd class. It was noted that he had worked as a labourer in civilian life and had a scar on his left shin.
The mystery in David’s naval record is that it records an alias of Thomas Ford. A note on his record states “army deserter /to be released for service in the RN”. Nothing further is known about the circumstances that led to this note.
David’s naval career was a relatively short six months spent at the shore bases of HMS Victory and HMS Vernon. His record notes that he died of heart failure in the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire on 27 August 1916. He is buried in the hospital cemetery in plot E.25.16. He is also honoured on the Street Memorial 1914-18, Brunswick Street and Wilson Street, South Shields.
David Killen was awarded the British War Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: South Shields
Birth date: 09-Sep-1897
Death date: 27-Aug-1916
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 3 Portberry Street, South Shields (1901 census)
19 Windmill Hill, South Shields (1911 census)
Family: Parents: Robert Killen (1871-1915), Emma Jane Killen nee Southern (1879-1953)
Siblings: Mary Alice Killen ((1900), Jane Killen (1902), Robert Killen (1904)
Military service:
K31082
Stoker 2nd class
HMS Victory
HMS Vernon
Medal(s): British War Medal
Memorial(s): Royal Naval Cemetery Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire: Plot E.25.16
Street Memorial 1914-18 Brunswick Street and Wilson Street, South Shields
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham