Reginald J Thomas
Reginald John Thomas was born in Bristol in 1898 and was adopted by Edwin and (Elizabeth) Esther Griffiths. In 1911 he lived at 1 Little Dock Street, Cogan with his adoptive parents and siblings William, Muriel and Ronald. Reginald served in the Royal Navy as Boy 1 aboard H.M.S. “Viknor” and was drowned on 13th January 1915 when his vessel was lost off the Irish coast. Mrs Esther Griffiths of 1 Little Dock St, Cogan and described as his aunt, was notified of his death. He is commemorated on Panel 8, Portsmouth Naval Memorial. It is thought the ship struck a German naval mine.
[RMS Atrato was a passenger steamship launched on 22 September 1888 for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. She was renamed SS Viking in 1912 after her sale to the Viking Cruising Company. On the outbreak of the First World War the ship was requisitioned by the Admiralty and outfitted use as a naval auxiliary, being renamed again Viknor. She served alongside the 10th Cruiser Squadron under the Command of Commander E. O. Ballantyne with a complement of 22 officers and 273 ratings. H.M.S. “Viknor” sank with the loss of all hands on 13 January 1915 while on active patrol duty in heavy seas off Tory Island]