Thomas Green
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Thomas was the son of Thomas and Adelaide Green. In 1891 Thomas snr (39) a pipe maker, and Adelaide (32) were living at 36 Milk Square with their children Thomas (7) and Eliza (2). Adelaide died in 1896 (A/M/J Nottingham) aged 37 and in 1901 both Thomas (17) a cellar man, and his father, were living with his married sister, Esther Tomlinson (26), her husband Frederick and their children at 14 Richmond Street, Nottingham. Thomas jnr. joined the Royal Navy in 1902 and married Rosa Keetley in 1907 (O/N/D Nottingham). Rosa was born in Nottingham on 25 June 1885 (J/A/S Nottingham) and was the daughter of William and Mary Keetley. According to the RN Pension Record (extract only sighted), Thomas and Rosa had three children: Esther Ellen, Rosa Clara and Thomas. Esther was born in Nottingham on 24 February 1910 (A/M/J Nottingham/Keetley), Rosa Clara in Nottingham on 1 November 1911 (O/N/D Nottingham/Keetley) and Thomas on 21 November 1912 (birth registered 1913 J/F/M Market Harborough Leics). However, there are two other records of births registered in the names of Green/Keetley: Arthur Green 1914 (O/N/D Market Harborough) and Eliza M Green 1917 (A/M/J Nottingham). Thomas left the Royal Navy in 1909 and in 1911 he and Rosa (26) a lace finisher, were living at 6 Sun Hill, Sneinton, with their daughter Esther (1). Thomas (27) was working as a railway porter. Thomas and Rosa later moved to Leicestershire: their third child's birth was registered in Market Harborough in 1913 and Rosa's address is recorded on RN records as Cottons Row, Lubenham, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Thomas rejoined the Royal Navy in 1915. His death was commemorated on two Lubenham war memorals suggesting that the family lived there for some while. However, the 1939 England & Wales Register records Rosa Green (widow, unpaid household duties) living at 179 Wells Road, Nottingham, with Thomas Green (married), a plasterer's labourer, and Rosa Clara Green (single, later Harvey), a lace machinist. Also in the household was Eliza M Clamp and her husband Thomas (b. 18 May 1918), a labourer for a plaster company; Eliza nee Keetley had married Thomas in 1938 (J/A/S Nottingham). Although Eliza's date of birth on the register, 19 August 1917, does not match the registration date of birth (1917 A/M/J), she may have been Rosa's daughter. Thomas's widow, Rosa, has not yet been traced after 1911. Of his siblings: Esther Ellen married Alexander Smith in 1928 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1939 they were living at 5 Archdale Road, Nottingham; Alexander b. 27 October 1909 was an engineer's labourer. Esther died on 15 December 1988 (O/N/D Nottingham). Rosa Clara married Leonard Harvey in 1944 (J/F/M Nottingham) and died on 3 February 1974 (J/F/M Nottingham). Thomas died aged 79 in 1992 (O/N/D Nottingham), burial 14 October.
Thomas joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 20 October 1902 on a 12 year continuous service engagement. Howver, he left the service on 15 April 1909 but rejoined on 1 June 1915 on a 'Hostilities Only' engagement. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Duke of Wellington II, 20 October 1902-31 March 1903 (Stoker 2nd Class); HMS Nelson, 1 April 1903-17 April 1903; Duke of Wellington, 18 April 1903-6 May 1903; HMS Revenge, 7 May 1903-18 May 1903; Duke of Wellington, 19 May 1903-31 May 1903; HMS Exmouth, 1 June 1903-22 April 1904. Cells 5 days. HMS Exmouth, 28 April 1904-17 May 1904; HMS Prince of Wales, 18 May 1904-28 May 1906; Victory, 29 May 1906-16 August 1906 (Stoker 1st Class 1 July 1906); HMS Spanker, 17 August 1906-31 March 1909; Victory, 1 April 1909-15 April 1909. He left the Royal Navy in 1909 then rejoined on 1 June 1915 (hostilities only). From June 1915, Thomas served in: Victory II, 1 June 1915-22 August 1915; HMS Black Prince, 23 August 1915-31 May 1916. His service record is annotated ‘NP4065/1916. DD [Discharged Dead] 31st May, 1916. Killed in action'. Thomas died at the Battle of Jutland; his body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. HMS Black Prince was sunk at Jutland on May 31st 1916. The circumstances surrounding her loss were unclear for many years because there were no positive sightings of Black Prince after 17.42. Recent historians hold to the German account of the ship's sinking. Black Prince briefly engaged the German battleship Rheinland at about 23:35 GMT, scoring two hits with 6-inch shells. Separated from the rest of the British fleet, Black Prince approached the German lines at approximately midnight. She turned away from the German battleships, but it was too late. The German battleship Thüringen fixed Black Prince in her searchlights and opened fire. Up to five other German ships, including battleships Nassau, Ostfriesland, and Friedrich der Grosse, joined in the bombardment, with return fire from Black Prince being ineffective. Most of the German ships were between 750 and 1500 yards of Black Prince - effectively point blank range for contemporary naval gunnery. Black Prince was hit by at least twelve heavy shells and several smaller ones, sinking within 15 minutes. There were no survivors from Black Prince's crew, all 857 being killed.
Lubenham, Market Harborough, Leicestershire: Thomas is commemorated on the Lubenham village memorial (WMA37384) and on the memorial in the parish church of All Saints, Lubenham (Thomas Green HMS Black Prince) www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk/war/memorials The Bundeswehr Museum of Military History, Dresden: Painting, oil on canvas: ‘SMS Thueringen destroys the English cruiser Black Prince in a night battle at 2am on 1 June.’ Clause Bergen (1885-1964). Caption: 'Present given by the commander of Thueringen, Captain Hans Kuesel, to his nephew in 1921. Bergen established his reputation as a marine painter with depictions of the Battle of Jutland (31 May-1 June 1916). When the Imperial German Fleet returned home, he was in Wilhelmshaven and asked officers involved in the battle to give him detailed accounts of the events.'
