Thompson, T (Thomas)
Private Thomas Thompson was the son of Susan Thompson, of Melrose Terrace, Londonderry; and the late Thomas Henry Thompson. He had joined the army during March 1915 at the young age of 16.
Thomas had been home on leave from the front. This had ended, and he boarded R.M.S. Leinster[1] to go back to his battalion on the 10th of October 1918. The ship set sail at 9.00 in the morning and began its voyage from Carlisle pier, Kingstown[2] in Ireland, its destination was Holyhead in Anglesey. Onboard were 771 passengers and crew.
Around an hour into its trip a torpedo was spotted, heading towards the portside[3] of the ship, it narrowly missed. Shortly afterwards another torpedo was spotted, but this time it struck R.M.S. Leinster.
The crew and passengers were lucky, there were few casualties, although the ship was slowly sinking. Passengers started going to the lifeboats.
R.M.S. Leinster then turned 180 degrees so that it could return to port, it was still slowly taking on water. Lifeboats were now being lowered and some passengers attempted to abandon ship. As this was happening a third torpedo was spotted heading towards the starboard side,[4] luck had now run out, the torpedo struck, and the ship exploded and sank quickly.
In total between 501 and 532 women, children, men, sailors, and soldiers lost their lives on that day.
U-boat U123[5] was responsible for this atrocity. It would never return home to report on this most heinous act as it was struck by a mine in the North Sea soon after. All crew were lost.
Private Thomas Thompson was the last surviving son of his parents, his brothers Victor and Norman had also lost their lives in the war.
Thomas was awarded the British War and Victory Medals and a full military funeral. The streets were lined by the public as most were horrified by the acts of U-boat U123.
Date of Death: 10/10/1918 (Aged 19)
Service: Private, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 1st Battalion, formally 3138 of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
Service Number: 20747, 3138
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, G. RR. 1052.
[1] RMS Leinster was a passenger and mail ship; it was launched during September 1896.
[2] Kingstown is now called Dun Laoghaire.
[3] Port side of a ship is the left when facing forward.
[4] Starboard is the right-hand side of a ship when facing forward.
[5] U-boat SM U123 was launched March 1918 and lost at sea during October 1918, 26 men lost their lives.