Crawford-Thompson 1896

Thomas Crawford

Thomas Crawford was born on the 12th January 1871 at Liverpool Workhouse, Brownlow Hill.

Thomas Crawford's parents were John and Jane Crawford (1848).  Jane Crawford was admitted into the workhouse some time on the 12th January 1871 and gave birth that same day to Thomas.  After a lying-in period, both were discharged on the 23rd January 1871.

At the moment we don't know were they went.  A search through the census's so far has came up with nothing until 1901 & 1911.

Naval Career

Through information gathered from older members of the family, Thomas Crawford had a life at sea and when he wasn't at sea he was a brick layers labourer.

Further evidence also shows that Thomas Crawford was at sea when he got married to Sarah Thompson in 1896 as his marriage certificate mentions that his occupation was a mariner.  At the time when his daughter Annie May was Born on 25th May 1898, the birth certificate mentions Thomas as a Ships cook.

Sadley we don't know what all the ships he was on and where they sailed to, but one of the ships we do know was the RMS Adriatic, but again uncertain of which one.  According to the documents we do have Thomas's main jobs on board was either as a Fireman, Trimmer or Stoker and on one occassion a ships cook.

First World War 1914 - 1919

Thomas Crawford was awarded the 1914-1915  Star, British War Medal and the Victory medal.  The name and inscription on the 1914-1915  Star was T Crawford FMN, MFA. Looking at the National Archives website the abbreviations MFA refers to Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary and FMN stands for Fireman.

At the time of his wife's death on the 3rd September 1915, Thomas was away at sea onboard HMS Otway, which was part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron in the North of Scotland during the First World War. 

SS Otway as she was known first was a 12,000-ton liner belonging to the Orient Steam Navigation Company and in 1915 she was requisitioned into service by the Royal Navy and converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser, armed with four seven-inch guns and made part of the Northern Patrol. 

HMS Otway was torpedoed by U-Boat UC49 on the 23/7/1917 and had 366 survivors with 10 casualties.  At the moment we don't know if Thomas Crawford was still serving on this ship during this time and was one of the many survivors, but it has been mentioned that Thomas Crawford was torpedoed 3 times during the First World War.

A postcard of SS Otway before she became HMS Otway

Death of Thomas Crawford

Thomas Crawford was admitted into Kirkdale Homes,  Rumney Road, Liverpool on the 31st May 1950 and died on the 23rd November 1950 from Senile Myocarditis at the age of 78.  He was later buried in a public grave at Anfield Cemetery in Liverpool.

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