Thomas Cutter

An Able Seaman with S.S. Hebble (Goole), Thomas died on 6th of May 1917 at the age of 50. 

Thomas was born at Kessingland on 3 January 1866, a son of Charles and Eliza Cutter. He was baptised at Saint Edmunds Church, Kessingland, on 28 January 1866. In 1871 his family lived ‘near the sea’ Kessingland. In 1881 his family lived at Beach Road, Kessingland, and Thomas was a carpenter. Later his father lived at Market Place, Kessingland. 

On 25 December 1890 Thomas married Priscilla Nichols at Saint Edmunds Church, Kessingland. Thomas was a fisherman and they both lived at Kessingland. In 1891 they lived with Priscilla’s sister, Sarah Utting, and family, at Green Lane, Kessingland. By 1901 they were living at 44 Pasture Road, Goole, Yorkshire. Later Priscilla lived at 83 Edinburgh Street, Goole. In 1911 Thomas was the Master of the Bertha at Goole.

During the First World War Thomas worked as ab Able Seaman on the S.S. Hebble. The Hebble was a requisitioned cargo steamer and in May 1917 was used to carry ammunition and designated Ammunition Stores Carrier No. 3. On 6 May the Hebble was sailing from Scapa Flow to Sunderland when it struck a mine east of the Roker Lighthouse, Sunderland, and sank. Of the 16 crew five, including Thomas, were killed and the others rescued by a motor launch and landed at Sunderland.