Thomas William Abbott
Place of birth: Hull,, Yorkshire, England
Previous occupation: Farm hand
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Chief Stoker
Service Number: K57464
Joined Hood: 31st August 1933
Left Hood: 17th April 1941
Biographical Information: Tom Abbott joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class in July 1919, just after the end of World War I. He was already over 18 years of age when he joined - rather older than average - following a short career as a farm labourer. He clearly made an excellent impression and stood out from his peers: not only did he achieve promotion all the way to Chief Stoker, but he did so after just over twelve years service, at the age of just 30. Scrutiny of his service documentation suggests why: he earned a series of Superior professional assessments.Tom Abbott served in Hood for over seven years, from 1933 to 1941, and left the ship barely a month before she sailed on her final voyage. He left her for his last substantive draft to HMS Beaver II, which was a naval party sent to alleviate distress in his badly-bombed home town of Hull. He left the Service to pension later in 1941.After the war Tom returned to Hull, and worked as a turbine driver at Sculcoates power station just across the road from the two up, two down house where he and his wife lived. He remained in Hull for the rest of his life.Ever the engineer, Tom had an enduring fascination for model railways. He did not say much to his family about his naval experiences, however, only once producing some photos of his RN time now long lost.Tom died on 28 June 1980 of a brain haemorrhage.
History of ships served in and ratings held:
Date From | Date to | Ship | Rating | Source |
15th July 1919 | 12th November 1919 | Victory II | Acting Stoker 1st Class | ADM188/975 |
13th November 1919 | 14th July 1920 | Caledon | Acting Stoker 1st Class | ADM188/975 |
15th July 1920 | 25th August 1921 | Caledon | Stoker 1st Class | ADM188/975 |
26th August 1921 | 5th February 1923 | Curacoa | Stoker 1st Class | ADM188/975 |
6th February 1923 | 23rd October 1923 | Iron Duke | Stoker 1st Class | ADM188/975 |
24th October 1923 | 1st December 1923 | Victory II | Acting Leading Stoker | ADM188/975 |
2nd December 1923 | 13th March 1924 | Fisgard | Leading Stoker | ADM188/975 |
14th March 1924 | 31st March 1924 | Fisgard | Acting Stoker Petty Officer | ADM188/975 |
1st April 1924 | 5th September 1924 | Victory II | Acting Stoker Petty Officer | ADM188/975 |
6th September 1924 | 13th March 1925 | Hermes | Acting Stoker Petty Officer | ADM188/975 |
14th March 1925 | 3rd June 1925 | Hermes | Stoker Petty Officer | ADM188/975 |
4th June 1925 | 31st August 1925 | Victory II | Stoker Petty Officer | ADM188/975 |
1st September 1925 | 31st August 1926 | Furious | Stoker Petty Officer | ADM188/975 |
1st September 1926 | 16th September 1926 | Victory II | Stoker Petty Officer | ADM188/975 |
17th September 1926 | 20th February 1928 | Fisgard | Stoker Petty Officer | ADM188/975 |
21st February 1928 | 8th September 1931 | Courageous | Stoker Petty Officer | ADM188/975 |
9th September 1931 | 2nd October 1931 | Courageous | Chief Stoker | ADM363/266 |
3rd October 1931 | 24th January 1932 | Victory II | Chief Stoker | ADM363/266 |
25th January 1932 | 21st February 1933 | Egmont II (Boreas) | Chief Stoker | ADM363/266 |
22nd February 1933 | 30th August 1933 | Victory II | Chief Stoker | ADM363/266 |
31st August 1933 | 17th April 1941 | Hood | Chief Stoker | ADM363/266 |
18th April 1941 | 15th September 1941 | Beaver II(Express) | Chief Stoker | ADM363/266 |
16th September 1941 | 8th November 1945 | Tyne (Express) | Chief Stoker | ADM363/266 |
9th November 1945 | Released Class A | Chief Stoker | ADM363/266 |
Additional Photographs
None at this time.
Memorials
No known memorials
No known memorials
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
Service documents