Name
Thomas Lawson Gaines
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/12/1916
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Able Seaman
SS/1308
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Negro"
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
16
United Kingdom
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Ware memorials
Pre War
Born on 3 Jan 1888 and was baptised on 7 Apr 1889 in Stanstead Abbotts, Ware son of Henry and Anna (Whitley) Gaines and was living at 13 Vicarage Road, Ware in 1911 and working as a nurseryman. He married Esther Jane Tillcock (later Mrs. Newton of 24 Gladstone Road, Ware.) in 1914 in Ware.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in the Royal Navy on 2 Feb 1906. He drowned as a result of a collision. On December 21st 1916 while escorting the Grand Fleet during a sweep, the new flotilla leader Hoste suffered a steering failure. She was ordered back to Scapa escorted by the destroyer Negro. The weather worsened and when the temporary repairs to her steering failed, Hoste sheered to starboard and the Negro, only 400yds astern couldn’t avoid her and ran into her aft. The collision knocked two depth charges off Hoste and the resulting explosions blew in the bottom of Negro, which sank quickly, and seriously damaged Hoste. 51 men were lost from the Negro.
Additional Information
In St Mary Church Memorial as Graines.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox
