Faces from the past Friday - the four cousins + one

Last week on Faces from the past Friday I wrote about Harold George McKerihan and his death at Lone Pine, Gallipoli. Shortly after writing about Harold I remembered another cousin that I had temporarily mislaid, if you can mislay a cousin that is.

He is Leonard Alexander Thomas DSM (my 3rd cousin 1x removed) so, having 'found' Leonard I'll write about what i know of him.  

Leonard was born on the 20th October 1896 in Grateley, Andover, Hampshire, England to Jonas William Thomas and Agnes Alexander. Leonard was the third son of eight children, four boys and four girls. Leonard was 13 at the time of the

1911 census and a school student.

HMS Glory 1899

He joined the R N R (Royal Navy Reserve) as a Trimmer on 14th August 1915 and was soon aboard HMS Victory. Leonard's vital statistics were as follows: height 5' 10";  complexion Dark; eyes Blue; Chest measurement 35½". He was confirmed navally medically fit for confirmation of rating. So perhaps we can imagine this young man aged just 19, excited about a great adventure.

Crew of HMS Vivid in the time Leonard was there
I wish I knew which one he was

Leonard served on five Royal Navy ships during his short service. He served on Victory from 14th August 1915 to 4th December 1915 (a training depot); Implacable from 24th April 1918 to 7th June 1918; Vivid from 5th December 1915 to 3rd April 1918; Idaho from 4th April 1918 to 22nd April 1918; Glory from 8th June 1918 until his death on the 10th October 1918.

Supplement to the London Gazette 2 July 1917

Leonard was awarded the DSM (Distinguished Service Medal) for bravery in 1917. It was published in the Supplement to the London Gazette on 2nd July 1917.

0159 - 29 JUNE 1917 

Honours for Service in Mine-Sweeping Operations. 

..... in recognition of their services in Mine-sweeping operations between the 1st July, 1916, and the 31st March, 1917: To Receive the Distinguished Service Medal:

Trmr. Leonard Thomas, R.N.R., O.N. 1937 S.T.

Leonard died on the 18th October 1918 on board HMS Glory at Archangel (Murmansk) Northern Russia from influenza. Seven other members of the crew died of influenza in the same week Leonard died. This was of course the time of the great influenza epidemic of 1918.

Archangel Allied Cemetery

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On Leonard's Naval Service Record is a rubber stamp titled: Naval Prize Money. This prize money is a reward paid to a ships crew for the capture or sinking of an enemy ship. The Royal Navy formed a “Naval Prize Fund” during the great war and all the prizes (with some exceptions) where lumped together and issued at the rate of 50/- a share to eligible personnel between 1920 and 1926.  So Leonard's parents received this money in 1925, seven years after Leonard's death. I didn't know Leonard but writing about him in Faces from the Past Friday honours his memory.