Lives of the First World War

Tommy's grave in Lodge Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, to confirm DoD.

LtoR;- Main armament brass Tampion from the exceptional Thorneycroft V-Class Destroyer HMS Viscount. Badge of HMS Viscount. Brass Tampion motif from the Main Armament of Super-Dreadnaught Battleship HMS Hercules. Foreground - photo of the speedy HMS Viscount.

Sport was an effective way of keeping crewmen fit and involved - and building on team-spirit. This image - datable to 1916 as chalked-on to the ball, was almost certainly taken at Scapa. Tommy was very keen on football, but he doesn't appear in this particular image. ( Have others where he does still to come.). Although it was supposed to be prohibited - officers and men all engaged in gambling - the outcomes of football-matched and boxing matched typically, but Tommy also cited running races - and the sums involved - even then large, at many thousands of pounds.

After Jutland, a meal was arranged aboard the Hercules featuring many of the senior RN figures from the battle. This Bandsman's Music-Card is signed on the obverse by many of the attendees and leaders from the Battle of Jutland. A separate image notes some of the names/personalities thus far identified. Any suggestions for the remainder gratefully received.

Signatures of leading lights of the RN present at Jutland etc.

An annotated version of the rear of the HMS Hercules Bandsman's Music-Card, indicating who some of the officers were who signed the card. Any further help much appreciated.

Viscount was Thorneycroft's take on the Admiralty V-Class Destroyer. She was exceptionally fast. Tommy was sent to watch her finished and to help crew her on her sea-trial, before becoming regular crew. She regularly steamed up to Archangel and Murmansk, summer or winter. After the end of the war, Viscount was involved in the support of the White Russians against the Bolsheviks. This was to be Tommy's final ship, before he left regular RN Service and entered the Reserves - in which he continued right up to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Officially embossed flier.

Concert Programme.

Concert Programme.

Concert Programme.

The News Chronical, Friday, June 2nd, 1938.

HMS Hercules at Battle-Practice, firing her main armament. HMS Monarch follows.

HMS Hercules at Battle-Practice, firing her main armament. HMS Monarch follows.

V-Class Destroyer - Elevation.

V-Class Destroyer - Plan View.

The opposition team - and very good they were too.