Thomas George Soles

Thomas joined the Royal Navy on 16 August 1900, two months after his 15th birthday. On 15 June 1903 at the age of 18 he engaged for 12 years. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Ganges, 16 August 1900-29 June 1901 (Bugler), HMS Minotaur, 21 June 1901-20 June 1901; HMS Ganges, 2 August 1901-10 October 1901; HMS Minotaur, 11 Oc tober 1901-28 January 1902; HMS Agincourt, 29 January 1902-3 February 1902; HMS Camperdown, 4 February 1902-5 May 19093; HMS (-), 6 May 1903-17 May 1904 (Ordinary Seaman 15 June 1903); HMS Exmouth, 18 May 1904-21 July 1904. Cells 14 days. HMS Exmouth 5 August 1904-1 May 1905; Victory I, 2 May 1905-8 May 1905; HMS Goliath, 9 May 1905-10 August 1905 (Able Seaman 26 June 1905, Stoker 2nd Class 3 August 1905); HMS Leviathan, 11 August 1905-7 August 1906 (Stoker 26 January 1906). Cells 10 days. HMS Leviathan, 18 August 1906-19 August 1906. Cells 3 days. HMS Leviathan 23 August 1906- (-) November 1906; Victory II, (-) November 1906-23 January 1907; HMS Fox, 24 January 1907-7 June 1907. 28 days overstayed leave of absence. HMS Forte, 6 July 1907-18 August 1908; HMS Sappho, 19 August 1908-21 September 1908; HMS Proserpine, 22 September 1908-27 July 1910; HMS Hyacinth, 28 February 1910-2 June 1911 (Acting Leading Stoker 1 April 1911); Pembroke II, 3 June 1911-13 June 1911; Victory II, 14 June 1911-12 August 1911; HMS Fisgard, 13 August 1911-15 December 1911 (Leading Stoker 9 December 1911); Victory II, 16 December 1911-9 February 1912; HMS Terrible, 10 February 1912-1 July 1912. His last date of service pre-war was 1 July 1912. He presumably transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve and therefore liable for moblization on the oubreak of war. His service document is annotated ‘Continued folio 4 at end’; this document, which would give his service record after rejoining, has not yet been traced. He was killed in action while serving in HMS Britannia. Britannia was in company of two destroyers on passage to Gibraltar when Britannia was hit off the Straits of Gibraltar by one of three torpedos fired by German submarine UB-50 (Cdr H Kukat). The majority of the ship's company were rescued before the ship sank, but Thomas was one of about 40 who did not survive. Thomas' body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

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