Thomas William Richard Henry Haskell was born on 1 February 1901 the second of the seven children of Thomas Henry Haskell (1879-1949) and Alice Maud Mary Haskell née Vidler (1873-1946). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1901 in the Tunbridge registration district, Kent.
His six siblings were:- Annie Minnie Haskell (1900-1900); Dorothy Alice Mary Haskell (1902-1983); Charles George Haskell (1904-1983); Rosina Edith Haskell (1907-1982); Violet Emma Haskell (1909-1995) and Walter John Haskell (1912-1984). A half-brother, Sydney Richard Crundwell, was born in 1913.
In the 1901 census he was shown as aged 2 months and living with his parents in three rooms within Dorking House, Dorking Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. His father was described as a general carman.
He was listed as a schoolboy, aged 10 years, in the 1911 census, living in four rooms at 101 Summerfield Street, Lee, London SE, with his parents, his four surviving siblings: Dorothy; Charles; Rosina and Violet, together with a lodger, Walter John Crundwell (1876-1940). Both his father and the lodger were described as general labourers.
On 12 July 1917 he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd class, service number J/73419, giving his occupation as a groundsman and was posted to HMS Impregnable, a training ship at Devonport, Devon. He was promoted to Boy 1st class on 8 December 1917 and on 28 May was transferred to HMS Warspite, a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship. He became an Ordinary Seaman on 1 August 1918 and on 1 February 1919 (his 18th birthday) he signed-on for 12 years service. His final promotion, to Able Seaman, was on 24 January 1920. It was whilst he was serving on HMS Warspite that he was drowned, aged 19 years, on 10 August 1920. He had been awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
His body was buried on 16 August 1920 in Plot D, Grave 3398 in the Ladywell Cemetery, Ladywell Road, London, SE13 7HY and as he has no headstone he is commemorated there on the Commonwealth. War Graves Commission's screen wall as 'T.W.R.H. HASKELL'.
He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website and on the Lewisham War Memorials website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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