WWI Pembroke II Mystery - Burial in France

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The shore base set up at Stavros to look after the Beach Party and boats based there was on offshoot (EUROPA II) of the main pay/admin office in HMS EUROPA at Mudros. I doubt that EUROPA herself ever went to Stavros. The Stavros shore base EUROPA II became HMS ST GEORGE on 1 January 1917 when that old cruiser/depot ship arrived at Stavros to take over the base task. Your GU may have been a steward ashore at the Stavros base and from the following link it appears that M.18 was also involved in the Stavros operations. It is a pity that the record does not show his precise movements, only where he was 'borne on the books'.

http://www-civ.eng.cam.ac.uk/cjb/papers/salonikaarticle.pdf

 

It is worth noting that naval ratings could not just be drafted to a shore base because, to fall under the Naval Discipline Act they had to be drafted to an HM Ship in commission. This ship was known an the 'nominal ship' for the shore establishment. In this case the personnel manning the Stavros shore base were drafted to a nominal ship back at Mudros, HMS EUROPA.

 

[Diane. Toronto]

Thomas Gooderson October 23, 1918-October 23, 2018 - 100 years gone.  Rest in Peace

Thomas Gooderson 1894-1918

Steward 2^nd Class, HMS “Pembroke” Royal Navy

Died 23^rd October, 1918 – buried at Paray le Monial, France

 

Thomas is buried next to Pvt. Stanley Tomlinson, a medic who died at age 29

Paray le Monial Communal Cemetery, France

 

A rose bush with thorns is a symbol of flawed and mortal humanity.  The purpose in literature has been to symbolically portray the relationship of love, beauty and pain suffered in different life affairs.

The fields of Flanders are not near, so why are these friends resting here among the cold and consummate far from home and incomplete in Paray le Monial.   When he was only twenty-four a young son ventured to explore but not to leave the earth to weep enwrapped in eternal sleep, unformed.   Now herein lie two stunted lives gazed upon by farmers’ wives who chatter in a foreign tongue and wonder why so young they lie   in dirty boots and dusty coats that do not match these gentle folk. Perhaps the medic on Tom’s side will help the hours his friend to bide, perhaps to sleep

in this small town in Burgundy where Sister Mary Alacoque, le disciple du Sacre Coeur sacrificed and gained succour for humanity.   Of certain truths there is a dearth When life treads lightly on the earth What celestial siren song Compelled these brave young souls to throng – they gave their lives   in grim theatres of desecration Or silent halls of contemplation Love resides and is reborn Among the roses and the thorns in Paray le Monial.

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 Just stumbled across this earlier topic (see maps at post #5 showing Paray) -