Thomas Peterson was born in 1914, his birth being registered in the 1st quarter of 1914 in the West Ham registration district, Essex (now Greater London).
He died, aged 26 years, as a result of enemy action whilst working in the Royal Victoria Yard, on 19 March 1941. He was buried on 27 March 1941 and, according to the Find a Grave website, this took place in Brockley, London. It was announced in the London Gazette dated 30 May 1941 that as an Acting Skilled Labourer, Admiralty Outstation, he had been posthumously commended for brave conduct in Civil Defence.
He is shown as 'Peterson T' on the Royal Victoria Yard war memorial located at The Colonnade, Grove Street, London, SE8, as 'T.Peterson' on the Victoria Cross Holders and local WW2 Civilian Heroes plaque inside Lewisham Shopping Centre, Molesworth Street, London, SE13 7HB and as 'Peterson, Thomas' on the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939-1945 that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey. The Roll of Honour also records that his home address had been 11 Alverton Street, Deptford and that his mother was Mrs T. Peterson of 20 Avonley Road, London, SE14. He is also commemorated on the Lewisham War Memorials website that tells the story of what happened on the night of his death and he is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
