Bertie Edward Thacker

A Civilian, Bertie died on 29th of September 1940 aged 56. 

Bertie was born at Kessingland on 8 February 1884, a son of Samuel and Mary Ann Thacker. In 1891 his family lived at Kessingland. 

Bertie married Clarinda Eliza Blowers at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 2 May 1906. Bertie was a fisherman and they both lived at Kessingland. In 1911 they lived at Verbena Place, London Road, Kessingland, and Bertie was a fisherman. This was still their home in 1918.  

Bertie joined the Royal Naval Reserve, to serve as a Deck Hand, on 6 June 1918, service number DA 20466. It appears that, prior to this, he had been serving with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, possible in the Yacht Section with service number Y 15789. He served with the trawler Nightfall before joining the trawler Regain. Bertie was demobilised on 27 January 1919. 

By 1939 Bertie and Clarinda were living at Dene Lodge, Whapload Road, and Bertie worked as a fishing boat store.

On 29 September 1940 Bertie was working at the Herring Market when a German Dornier Do. 17 bomber dropped six bombs on the Harbour and Dock area. The office at the Herring Market took a direct hit killing four sailors and four civilian naval employees (It is assumed that Bertie was among the latter). See Anniversary of bombing raid marked by town commemoration | Eastern Daily Press (edp24.co.uk)

Bertie was buried at Saint Edmund’s Churchyard, Kessingland, on 3 October 1940.