Name
Thomas Joseph Harwood (*1)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/06/1916
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Stoker 1st Class
204985
Royal Navy
H.M.S. Hampshire
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Panel 18.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour
Pre War
Son of Thomas and Eveline/Eveleen (nee WELLS) HARWOOD; husband of Clarissa (nee CLARKE) HARWOOD.
His parents married 23 August 1880 at All Saints, Poplar, London. Thomas possibly died 1935 in the Dorchester, Dorset, district aged 80; Eveline remarried (or not) Alfred PITTS [before 1901].
Thomas was born 5 March 1884 in Poplar or Millwall, London, and married 1912 in the Portsmouth district; they had two children. Clarissa never remarried and died 1966 in the North Bucks district aged 85.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 7 he lived in Poplar, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, he was serving with the Navy somewhere! On the 1911 Census, a stoker aged 27, he was serving aboard H.M.S. Minataur stationed in Hong Kong.
Wartime Service
He started his service 29 June 1897 as Boy 2nd Class and was promoted to Boy 1st Class in April 1900. He engaged 5 March 1902 for 12 years service, as an Ordinary Seaman, becoming Stoker 2nd Class 29 August 1904, and promoted to Stoker 1st Class 1 July 1906.
He served on many ships during his time in the Navy. He joined the R.F.R. 5 March 1914, and joined H.M.S. Hampshire 24 May 1916.
He was killed or died as a direct result of enemy action, when the ship is believed to have struck a mine laid by the German submarine U-75; the ship sank in about 15 minutes. Of over 600 personnel on board, only 12 men managed to reach the shore. His body was not recovered for burial; his widow of Watford was notified of the death.
Additional Information
*1 Unless two men exist he appears to also be recorded as HORWOOD T J in the Borough Roll of Honour. There is an article about and a Death announcement for Thomas in the West Herts and Watford Observerdated 17 June 1916.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
