Thomas Bown
He attended Bath Street School, Nottingham and was then employed by Messrs G Blackburn and Sons Ltd at their Atlas Works. In 1939, Bown worked as a hosiery machine fitter.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Thomas was the son of Thomas Bown and his wife Fanny (née Brown).
Thomas and Fanny were married in 1908 and had three children, Annie Emily (1909), Kate (1913) and Thomas (1920).
In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Thomas, a fitter (hosiery machines), was living with his parents, who were shopkeepers (grocery), at 38 Burgess Road, Nottingham.
Both his sisters were now married; Annie to Frederick Leake in 1930, and in 1939 living on Burgess Road, close to her parents, and Kate who had married William Leighton in 1932 and living with her husband and children on Sneinton Dale.
Thomas married Ethel Minnie Tattershall (b. 1919) in 1940. Ethel, a yarn knotter, was recorded on the 1939 Register living with her mother, Lucy, and siblings on Livingstone Street, Nottingham.
Ethel married secondly Samuel E Ball in 1945 and they had a son, Malcom the following year. Ethel died in 2004.
Thomas's parents later lived on Healey Street, Nottingham. His father died in 1956 (residence Healey Street) and his mother in 1969.
HMS Bonaventure, a Dido class light cruiser, was laid down in 1937 and commissioned on 24 May 1940.
HMS Bonaventure (Captain HJ Egerton RN, 29 March 1940-31 March 1941), was one of four warships escorting convoy GA-8 which had sailed from Piraeus on 29 March 1941 for Alexandria. The two transports were escorted initially by three destroyers, HMAS Stuart, HMS Griffin and HMS Hereward, with HMS Bonaventure joining the group on 30 March.
An Italian submarine (Dagabur) had made an unsuccessful torpedo attack on HMS Bonaventure on the evening of 30th but the following day the Italian submarine Ambra (Arillo, Mario) successfully attacked and sank the light cruiser with torpedoes about 100 nautical miles off Crete in position 33º20'N, 26º35'E. There were 139 casualties but over 300 survivors, including Captain (later Rear-Admiral) Egerton, were rescued by HMAS Stuart (Capt HML Waller DSO RAN) and HMS Hereward (Lt WJ Munn RN).
HMAS Stuart unsuccessfully depth charged the submarine Ambra which was scuttled at La Spezia on 9 September 1943 after the Cassibile Armistice had been signed.
Thomas's body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 51. Column 1).
Nottingham Evening Post, 10 April 1941: Photograph and report, ‘Nottingham Seamen’s Death. News has been received of the death of ERA Thomas Bown RN, of 38 Burgass-road, Nottingham. He was 21, and after leaving Bath-street School, he was employed by Messrs G Blackburn and Sons, Ltd, at their Atlas Works.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 10 April 1941: ‘Bown. Thomas (Tommy), killed at sea. Shattered hopes. Some day we shall meet again. Broken hearted wife Ethel.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 10 April 1941: ‘Bown. Thomas, the beloved only son of Mr and Mrs J Bown, of 38 Burgass-road. His smile will be our memory for ever.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 10 April 1941: ‘Bown. Thomas, our beloved brother. Some day we shall understand. Kate, Bill and nephews.’ [Kate and William Leighton] (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 10 April 1941: ‘Bown. Thomas (Tommy), our loved and only brother, killed suddenly. Worthy of everlasting remembrances. Annie and Fred.’ [Annie Emily and Frederick Leake] (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 10 April 1941: ‘Bown. In loving memory of our dear son-in-law, Thomas, killed at sea. One of the best that life could find, a beautiful memory left behind. Father-in-law, Pvt. J Tattersall, mother-in-law and family. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 31 March 1944: ‘Bown, Treasured memories of my dear husband, Tommy, March 31st, 1941 (HM Navy). My lips cannot speak how I loved him; God only know how I have missed him. Wife Ethel.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Photo of Thomas Bown
Photo of Thomas Bown
Plymouth Naval Memorial (www.cwgc.org)