Centenary of RFA Hughli lost 26 April 1919.

[Guest]

Remembering my 2nd Great - Uncle , MMR 777136 Thomas Meek, Foreman Rigger on RFA Hughli , a salvage tug lost in an explosion off the coast of Belgium. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Naval war memorial in Plymouth. 

Thomas was born in Liverpool on 13 March 1871 and joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15. He left by purchase when his first child was born in 1895 and joined the merchant navy. At the outbreak of WW1 he became a reservist with the Royal Navy and was selected in 1916 for salvage work. He drowned when the Hughli exploded and his body was not recovered. He was 48 years old and had spent 33 years at sea.

A total of 19 men died on the Hughli and they are variously commemorated on the Naval war memorials at Plymouth, Portsmouth and Chatham.

RIP

 

[Cheshire22]

There is an Unknown member of the Crew buired in Ostend Communal Cemetery in B 18 

 

and another unknown crew member in De Pann Communal Cemetery in  Block F, Civilian Sect. Grave 2

 

 

 

Edited 1 May , 2019 by Cheshire22

[BullerTurner]

The grave in De Panne you reference contains the body of Assistant Cook John Cain, who was killed in the Hughli on that date.  Has this recently been identified?  Or was that an error?

 

 

[Talesofaseadog]

I am just wondering if your relative served on RFA Racer before RFA Hughli, if he did, we have a relative who served with him as a Salvage Rigger?