Tom Ormerod
Able Seaman Mersey/Z/1722
S.S. Kingsdyke
Tom was the son of Thomas Henry and Sarah Anne Ormerod, of Colne, Lancashire. His ancestry can be traced back to Henry Ormerod, of Pendle Forest and Waterside, Colne, and his wife Betty, who lived in the latter half of the Eighteenth Century.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Tom was living with his parents and siblings at 1 Portland St, Colne. Their details are recorded as follows.
Dwelling: |
1 Portland St |
Census Place: |
Colne, Lancashire, England |
Source: |
PRO Ref RG13; Piece 3887; Folio 114; Page 46 |
Marr |
Age |
Sex |
Birthplace |
|||
Thos Hy ORMEROD |
M |
37 |
M |
Lancs Colne |
||
Rel: Occ: |
Head Stone Mason (Worker) |
|||||
Sarah Ann ORMEROD |
M |
32 |
F |
Lancs Colne |
||
Rel: |
Wife |
|||||
Charles ORMEROD |
S |
6 |
M |
Lancs Colne |
||
Rel: |
Son |
|||||
Richard ORMEROD |
S |
5 |
M |
Lancs Colne |
||
Rel: |
Son |
|||||
Thomas ORMEROD |
S |
3 |
M |
Lancs Colne |
||
Rel: |
Son |
At the time of the 1911 Census, Thomas, his parents and siblings were living at 18 Mabel Street, Colne.
Tom's Navy Service Record shows that he joined the Navy on 24 May 1916 - for the duration of hostilities, and served on S.S. Kingsdyke (a Defensively Armed Merchant Ship (DAMS))
His Service Record notes that he had a 32 1/2 inch chest, was 5' 3 3/4 tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. It also records that he had a circular scar on his right shoulder blade.
On January 17th, 1918, S.S. Kingsdyke, on a voyage from Rouen to Cardiff in ballast, was sunk by the German submarine UB-80 (Max Viebeg), 20 miles NE3/4E from Cape Barfleur. 16 persons were lost, including Tom. He has no known grave.
His name is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial (Ref. 29), and also on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register does not record the fact that Tom is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.
S.S. Kingsdyke was constructed in 1888, and was originally called Orestes.
She was taken over by J.R. Ellerman with the Westcott & Laurence Line in 1901, and in 1907 was sold to Kingsdyke S.S. Co., Glasgow, at which time she was renamed.