-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour
Memorials to Men Lost in the sinking
In Remembrance of
Thomas Topham
Place of birth: Derby, Derbyshire, England
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: P/SSX 21608
Joined Hood: Unknown
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship)
Click here to print memorial poster
Biographical Information:
Thomas was born on 9th August 1919 in Derby, Derbyshire. He was one of three sons born to Mrs Beatrice Fenton. The family lived at 7 Fife Street, Alvaston.
Thomas worked at the L.M.S. Carriage and Wagon Works, Derby until joining the Navy in 1937. He is known to have survived the sinking of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Courageous in September 1939. He had two brothers who served in the Army during the war.
Thomas was 21 years old at the time of his loss.
Additional Photographs
None at this time.
Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire, England
Photos of the memorial
Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea, Hampshire, England
Photos of the memorial
The part of the memorial in which the Hood casualty names can be found.
(Panels 45 to 61)
Thomas's name is in Column 3 of Panel 49.
Detail of Thomas's name.
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
Mary Mckeown (information derived from the "Derby Daily Telegraph", September 2013)