Thomas Stoker

A Stoker Petty Officer with H.M.S. Matabele, Thomas died on 17th of January 1942 aged 32. 

Thomas was born at Murton Colliery, Easington, Durham, on 2 August 1909, a son of Robert and Catherine Stoker. In 1911 his family lived at 37 Stoddart Street, Tyne Docks, South Shields. By 1921 their home was at 9 Thompson Street, Tyne Docks, South Shields.  

On 3 August 1938 Thomas married Ivy Maud Chipperfield at Saint Bartholomew’s Church, Bethnal Green. Thomas stated that he was a ‘naval rating on the high seas, and Ivy was a clerk living at the Stewart Headlam School. In 1939 Ivy lived with her parents at 12 Colville Road, Oulton Broad. Later Ivy remarried. 

In January 1942 Thomas was serving with the destroyer H.M.S. Matabele. On 17 January 1942 the Matabele was part of the defensive screen for convoy PQ 8 sailing from Iceland to Murmansk. At 10.21 p.m. the German submarine U-454 fired a torpedo at the Matabele which struck the ship in the stern and caused the ship’s magazine to explore. The Matabele sank within two minutes. Of the ship’s 238 crew only two survived.