BORN HULL 1899. SON OF THOMAS & THE LATE LILY WHITEHURST, AT THIS HEDON ROAD ADDRESS ABOVE. LOST AT SEA ON 12/05/1918, AGED 19. HE IS LISTED ON THE TRINITY HOUSE WW1 MEMORIAL. RECORDED ON THE HULL MERCHANT NAVY ROLL OF HONOUR.
Haslingden SS was a 1,934grt, defensively-armed British Merchant steamer. On the 12th May 1918 when 7 miles E from Seaham Harbour she was torpedoed without warning and sunk by German submarine UB-21. 11 lives lost including Master. Vessel was on route from Rouen to Tyne. The UB-21 became the most successful submarine that operated along the East Coast of England. In February 1917 the UB-21 sank the LADY ANN off Scarborough. In the following 15 months she was responsible for the JOHN MILES, BYWELL, VICTORIA, RIKARD NORDRAAK, EDITH CAVELL, SNA II, SIR FRANCIS, TRELYON, GLOW, VANLAND, SPRINGHILL, AMSTELDAM, GEMMA, OCEAN, PATRIA, HERCULES (Whitby), HERCULES (Filey Bay), CONSTANTIA, ANBOTO MENDI, GOTHIA (off Hartlepool), HASLINGDEN (off Seaham), the sailing vessel MENTOR (off Hartlepool) and finally the PAUL in Sept 1918. A total of 23 vessels where sunk by UB-21 off the Yorkshire Coast, and at least another 9 vessels sank or damaged along the east coast of England and 4 vessels taken as a prize of war. Also, under the command of Franz Walther, UB-21 sank the fishing vessel EXCEL 18/02/1917 and the Swedish steamer HAROLD on 06/05/1917, both NE of the Tyne.
Whitehurst, Thomas Walter
First name:
THOMAS WALTER
Regiment:
Rank:
Steward
Date Died
12/05/1918
Place died:
Sea
Age:
19
