Thomas Leonard Smith (1894-1917)
Seaham boilermaker served as an engine room artificer on HMS Redbreast
Thomas Leonard Smith was born on 14 November 1894 in Seaham. His father was railway engine driver George Hunter Smith (born 1859) from Shincliffe. His mother was Elizabeth Smith nee Grieves (born 1870) from Seaham. His parents married around 1889 and had five children giving Thomas three brothers and a sister. At the time of the 1901 census the Smith family lived at 15 Swinbank Cottages, Seaham. By the 1911 census they had moved to 58 Marlborough Street, Seaham.
Thomas joined the Royal Navy on 6 March 1916 to serve for the duration of hostilities. He had been working as a boilermaker in civilian life. He was initially rated as an acting engine room artificer 4th class with the service number M19401. He became an engine room artificer 4th class on 28 April 1917.
Thomas served on HMS Redbreast during the war. Redbreast was a requisitioned passenger and cargo ship used by the Royal Navy as a messenger ship and anti-submarine Q-ship or armed decoy ship. She was torpedoed in the Aegean Sea by German submarine UC-38 on 15 July 1917 while on passage from Skyros to the Doro Channel. Thomas was one of 42 crew lost when the vessel sank. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Thomas Leonard Smith was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: Dawdon
Birth date: 14-Nov-1894
Death date: 15-Jul-1915
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 15 Swinbank Cottages, Dawdon (1901 census)
58 Marlborough Street, Seaham (1911 census)
Employment: Boilermaker (1911 census)
Family: Parents: George Hunter smith (b 1859), Elizabeth Smith nee Grieves (b 1870)
Siblings: George Edgar Smith (b 1888), Frederick Peter Smith (b 1890), Wilfred Murian Smith (b 1892), Hilda May Smith (b 1900)
Military service:
Royal Navy
Service Number M19401
Acting engine room artificer 4th class, 6 March 1916
Engine room artificer 4th class, 28 April 1917
HMS Redbreast
Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham