Thomas Samuel Cropley

An Engineman with H.M.S. Pembroke, Thomas died on 3rd of September 1917 at the age of 34. 

Thomas was born at Lowestoft on 16 November 1882, a son of Robert Richard and Hannah Eliza Cropley. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 6 December 1882. In 1891 his family lived at 23 The Hemplands, and this was still their home in 1901, when Thomas worked as a fisherman. 

On 29 May 1906 Thomas married Edith Louisa Tuttle at Saint Margaret’s Church. Thomas was a fisherman living at 53 Mariners Street, and Edith lived at 22 Factory Street. In 1911 they lived at 31 Factory Street, and Thomas was a deep sea, drift net, fisherman.

On 13 July 1915 Thomas joined the Royal Naval Reserve. He served on the Herring Seeker, a requisitioned Stornaway drifter, SY 251, used as a net vessel. On 31 July 1917 he was drafted to H.M.S. Pembroke.

In September 1917 the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham was full of ratings and overflow accommodation had to be found at the Drill Hall. On 3 September 1917 Thomas was at Chatham Barracks. That night five German Gotha bombers made a raid on the Medway towns, including Chatham. The Drill Hall took a direct hit and over 130 men, including Thomas were killed, or wounded. Ninety-eight of the men, including Thomas, were buried at Gillingham, and others were buried closer to their homes.  

Thomas’ brother-in-law, William Tuttle, served with Trinity House and died in 1945.