Thomas William Cole

A Second Hand with H.M. Trawler Damito, Thomas died on 13th of July 1940 at the age of 42. 

Thomas was born at Lowestoft on 14 May 1897, a son of Thomas William and Bertha Lavinia Cole. In 1901 his family lived at 9 Nelson Road, Carlton Colville, and by 1911 they were living at 13 Payne Street, Lowestoft.

On 2 May 1916 Thomas joined the Royal Naval Reserve, number 11047 DA. At that time he was living at 28 Edward Street, Milford Haven. During the First World War he served as a Deck Hand with the Sabrina and then the Idaho. He was demobilized on 28 January 1919. 

In 1921 Thomas was a Deck Hand on the trawler William Hannan, based at Milford Haven. By 1922 his home was at 46 Florence Road, Pakefield, and later he lived at 14 Saint Margaret's Place, Pakefield.

In 1925 Thomas was awarded his certificate of competency as a Second Hand. 

In 1936 Thomas married Violet Sarah Rachel Adams at Lowestoft. In 1939 they lived at 8 Crossways, Long Road, Pakefield, and Thomas worked as an ice cream salesman and general labourer. 

During the Second World War Thomas served as Second Hand with the minesweeping trawler Damito. He died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Portland, Dorset, from injuries received on active service.