Samuel Tongue
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Samuel Tongue was born in 1892 at Sutton Bonnington and was the son of Richard a farm labourer and Ruth Tongue née Mears of Main St, Sutton Bonington. His father Richard was born in 1864 at Sutton Bonnington, his mother Ruth Mears was born in 1862 also at Sutton Bonnington, they were married in 1886 their marriage was recorded in the Loughborough registration district, they went on to have 9 children, sadly two died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were John William b1888 at Kegworth, their remaining children all born in Sutton Bonnington were James Ernest b1889, Samuel b1892, Richard Arthur b1893, Alfred b1895 and Rose Evelyn b1897. In the 1911 census the family are living at Sutton Bonnington and are shown as Richard Tongue 47 yrs a general farm labourer, he is living with his wife Ruth 49 yrs and their children, John William 23 yrs a railway engine stoker, James Ernest 22 yrs a builders carter, Samuel 19 yrs a wagoner on a farm, Richard Arthur 18 yrs a farm labourer, Alfred 16 yrs a farm labourer and Rose Evelyn 14 yrs working at home.
Private Samuel Tongue enlisted at Nottingham, he served with the South Nottinghamshire Hussars . He was drown when his battalion was being transport on the Transport Ship 'Leasowe Castle' which was torpedoed on 2th May 1918. His name is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Egypt. In May 1918 his regiment sailed from Alexandria, Egypt for Italy on the H T Leasowe Castle,which was torpedoed by a German Submarine U51 which fired 2 torpedoes from 4500 metres. One hit and sank the ship just outside Alexandria. There were few casualties, but Samuel was one. This account is from a local resident posted on the Woodborough village website. The Hussars had been fighting in the Middle East and they were returning to France where they were to be re-formed as a machine gun company. Their new title was to be the South Notts Machine Gun Battalion. They were sent to Alexandria, Egypt and had received orders to embark on a transporter ship called the "Leasowe Castle" on 23th May 1918 . On 27th May, the ship was struck by a torpedo with devastating results. A very detailed account of the fateful journey may be read in the historical records of the South Notts Hussars Yeomanry by G. Fellows. The "Leasowe Castle" was one of a convoy of six transporters and they were accompanied by a number of destroyers. The weather was good, the sea was calm and a brilliant moon shone in the night sky. At 1.30 am on May 27th 1918 when the ship was about 104 miles from Alexandria, the "Leasowe Castle" was struck by a torpedo on the starboard side. The engines were immediately stopped. The troops mustered to their stations, rolls were called, boats lowered and rafts flung overboard. The Japanese destroyer "R" stood by, while the remainder of the convoy continued on their journey at full speed. We are informed that perfect order was maintained on board, the men standing quietly at their stations as if on parade, while those detailed for the work assisted in lowering the boats. Lifeboats were launched in the course of forty five minutes and the rescue attempt continued smoothly. The "Leasowe Castle" remained fairly steady, though sinking a little at the stern, with a slight list to port. All of 'B' (Warwickshire Yeomanry) Company of the Battalion went over the port side and were picked up in the water. About 1.45am. HM sloop "Lily" appeared having turned back from the convoy to assist in the work of rescue. She ran her bows up to the starboard side of the "Leasowe Castle" and made fast, so that troops were able to pass quickly on board. Meanwhile the Japanese destroyer put up a smoke screen for protection. Suddenly about 3.00am a bulkhead in the aft part of the ship gave way, and with a loud noise the "Leasowe Castle" sank rapidly. The "Lily" had a narrow escape, as the hawsers connecting her with the sinking ship were cut with an axe just in time.
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