George Henry Alexander Thompson

A Skipper with H.M. Trawler Lock Doon, George died on 25 December 1939 at the age of 31.

George was born at Kessingland on 5 September 1908, a son of Alexander John and Jane Elizabeth Thompson. In 1911 his family lived at 3 Lakenham Cottages, Beach Street, Pakefield, and, by 1921 they were living at 10 Lovewell Road and this was still the family home in 1939. 

George was awarded his Certificate of Competency as a Skipper in 1931. From 29 September 1931 to 27 February 1932, when he was invalided, George served with the Royal Naval Reserve as a Second Hand.  

George married Roberta Oaten Pink, at Fleetwood, on 10 May 1932. In January 1939 George and Roberta were living at 73 Stratford Road, Milford Haven, in June 1939 they moved to 7 Commercial Terrace, Padstow. In 1942 Roberta married Henry Chesterton.  

George was appointed Probationary Skipper in the Royal Naval Reserve on 16 January 1939, number WS 2866. George underwent training at H.M.S. Drake from 11 October 1939 to 25 October 1939, when he transferred to H.M.S. Boscowan for further instruction. On 7 November 1939 he was sent to H.M.S. Pembroke X (later called H.M.S. Europa) at Sparrows Nest, Lowestoft, and on 19 November he took command of the anti-submarine trawler Loch Doon. 

On 25 December 1939 the Loch Doon was patrolling off Blyth, Northumberland, and struck a mine that had been laid a few days earlier by submarine U-22. Note some sources state that the trawler was torpedoed by U-22. George, and the other fifteen crew, were all killed. 

George was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches for mine-sweeping (London Gazette 12 April 1940). 

George’s brother Chester served with the Royal Naval Reserve, as the Skipper of the trawler Willing Boys, and died in 1942. 

With thanks to Trevor Faulknor.