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.

The Tower Hill Memorial, London
The First World War section of the Tower Hill Memorial, London
Tom Ormerod, of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London
      The Plymouth Naval Memorial
      Tom Ormerod commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Memorial
S.S. Kingsdyke, originally called Orestes