HMS Thetis (HMS Thunderbolt)

Submit a new image

Reference WMO/259433

Address:

Woodside Promenade

Woodside

Birkenhead

CH41 6DU

England

Open large map
Edit memorial name, location & address
Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Attached to a building/structure
Description: Other monument
Materials:
  • Metal Metal (any)
  • Stone Sandstone
Lettering: Raised
Conflicts:
  • Other
About the memorial: Stone plinth with a metal plaque on each side- the plaque on the landward side is the dedication, that on the river side lists all the casualties. It is adjacent to the Operation Frankton Memorial (WMO/133701). HMS Thetis (N25) was a Group 1 T-class submarine of the Royal Navy which served under two names. Under her first identity, HMS Thetis, she commenced sea trials on 4 March 1939. She sank during trials on 1 June 1939 with the loss of 99 lives. She was salvaged, repaired and re-commissioned as HMS Thunderbolt serving in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theatres until she was lost with all hands on 14 March 1943. This makes Thetis one of the few military vessels that have been lost twice with her crew in their service history. This memorial covers specifically the 1939 tragedy so does NOT cover WW2.
Edit memorial details
Report this condition update

View more details
Report this condition update

View more details

Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.

Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.

If you believe your project is eligible for a grant you should complete the Pre-application enquiry form. You will need to be registered and logged in to complete this.

The Pre-application enquiry form is a series of questions to see if your project is eligible. If it is, you will need to provide further details and submit current colour photographs of the war memorial in either a png, gif, jpg or jpeg format.

You can save your Pre-application enquiry form as you go along. Once submitted War Memorials Trust will respond.

Please be aware that a summary of your enquiry, without your contact details, will appear on this page once submitted. This ensures others are aware that an enquiry has been made and can read the response to avoid duplicate enquiries. Information provided by you to us will be used for the purpose of managing the grant enquiry, for further details please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

As a charity, War Memorials Trust relies on voluntary donations and every contribution, no matter how large or small, makes a really big difference to our work. Your donation will help protect and conserve war memorials for future generations so please support War Memorials Trust’s work.

Report this comment

Plaque 1-H.M.S. THETIS (H.M.S. THUNDERBOLT); Left Hand Side-This plaque is erected in memory of the men who tragically lost their/lives in the submarine H.M.S. Thetis (Thunderbolt), a Group/ T Class Submarine. Built at Cammell Laird's which sank whilst /on sea trials in Liverpool Bay on the 1st June 1939//The first dive was attempted at around 14:00 and the inner door of the/No. 5 tube was opened resulting in an inrush of water causing/ the bow to sink to the seabed, 150 ft (46m) below.//The stern briefly remained on the surface but only four of the crew/escaped. After a 20 hour delay, the remainder were overcome by/carbon dioxide before the evacuation could be started.//In addition to the normal crew of 53, there were 26 Cammell Laird/employees, 15 Naval Officers and Admiralty Overseeing Officers,/4 Vickers Armstrong employees, 3 personnel from Brown Brothers and/Co., including a Pilot and 2 caterers fro City Caterers (Liverpool) Ltd.; Right Hand Side- The surviving crew only abandoned Thetis when they were/discovered by the destroyer Brazen which had indicated it's presence in/the darkness by dropping small explosive charges into the water.//On the 3rd of September 1939, the day that Great Britain declared war/on Germany and her allies, the submarine was towed to and grounded/at Traeth Bychan beach. Here, the majority of the bodies were recovered from inside the sub and buried at Maeshyfryd Cemetery,/where a memorial service is held every year.//One further fatality occurred during salvage operations, when/Diver Petty Officer Henry Otho Perdue died from the bends/on 23 August 1939.//Thetis was later salvaged, repaired and re-commissioned as/HMS Thunderbolt serving in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Theatres/until she was lost with all hands on 14 March 1943.; Plaque 2-IN MEMORIAM: H.M.S./M. THETIS/Officers and Men of H.M.S./M. 'Thetis'/[names in 3 columns]/_____/ [Column 1]-Officers of Submarine building at Cammell Laird/[4 names]/Other Naval Officers/ [4 names]/ Admiralty and Overseeing Officers/[7 names]; [Column 2]- Employees of Cammell Laird and Co. Ltd/[Column 2a]- Managers and Foremen/[7 names]/ Electricians/[6 names]; [Column 2b]- Engine Fitters/[8 names]/Ship Fitters/[3 names]/Caulker/[name]; [centred below columns 2a and 2b]- The Survivors/[4 names]; [Column 3]-Employees of Vickers Armstrong Ltd/[4 names]/Employee of Brown Bros and Co. Ltd/[name]/ Mersey Pilot/[name]/Employees of City Caterers (Liverpool) Ltd/[2 names]

The Officers and Men of the Submarine- Column 1- Lieutenant Commander G.H. Bolus R.N./ Lieutenant H. Chapman R.N./ Lieutenant W.A. W. Poland R.N./ Commissioned Engineer R.N. Mr R D Glenn/ Chief Petty Officer G P Cornish/ Petty Officer E Mitchell/ Petty Officer T T Goad/ Petty Officer C B Smithers/ Petty Officer Telegraphist J A Hope/ Petty Officer Cook J C Hughes/ Electrical Artificer A W Byrne/ Chief Engine Room Artificer W C Ormes/ Chief Engine Room Artificer P F Jackson; Column 2- Engine Room Artificer J C Creasey/ Engine Room Artificer H W E French/ Engine Room Artificer H G Howgills/ Chief Stoker H J Dillon-Shallard/ Stoker Petty Officer J W Wells/ Leading Seaman W L Hombrook/ Leading Seaman W A Luck/ Leading Seaman J A Read/ Leading Seaman A H Smith/ Leading Seaman S W G Stevens/ Leading Signalman P B Batten/ Leading Telegraphist W E Allan/ Leading Telegraphist G A Harwood; Column 3- Leading Steward F N Stock/ Able Seaman J Costley/ Able Seaman S Crombleholme/ Able Seaman E A Kendrick/ Able Seaman N Longstaff/ Able Seaman J A Morgans/ Able Seaman F Rogers/ Leading Seaman J H Turner/ Able Seaman T Wilson/ Telegraphist C T W Graham/ Telegraphist T W Mortimer/ Leading Stoker R S Brooke/ Leading Stoker D Cunningham; Officers of Submarine Building at Cammell Laird- Lieutenant Commander R.N. Garnett R.N./ Lieutenant-Commander T.C.C. Lloyd R.N./ Lieutenant P.B.J. Ryan R.N./ Lieutenant (B) A.G.J. Jamison R.N.; Other Naval Officers- Commander R.G.B. Hayter R.N. Commander L.G. Pennington R.N. Engineer Captain S. Jackson R.N. Lieutenant (B) C.M.H. Henderson R.N.; Admiralty and Overseeing Officers- Mr W.H. Aslett/ Mr P. Bailey/ Mr B. Gisborne/ Mr A.A. R. Hill/ Mr C.W. Horne/ Mr H. Horsman/ Mr L.W. Hunn; Employees of Cammell Laird- Managers and Foremen- Mr J.I. Armstrong/ Mr R.W, Crout/ Mr R. Kipling/ Mr W. Owen/ Mr A.B. Robinson/ Mr R Rogerson/ Mr A S Watkinson; Electricians- Mr S Broad/ Mr A G Chinn/ Mr C J S Hamilton/ Mr E H Lewis/ Mr W H Smith/ Mr A G Somers; Engine Fitters- Mr F R Bresner/ Mr W Brown/ Mr H Eccleston/ Mr J Griffiths/ Mr R Horner/ Mr J A Page/ Mr P L Quinn/ Mr C Smith; Ship Fitters- Mr A Craven/ Mr G L Scarth/ Mr W Watterson; Caulker- Mr W B Beatty; Employees of Vickers Armstrong Ltd-Mr T Ankers, Mr H T Cragg, Mr D V Tyler, Mr J Young; Employee of Brown Bros & Co Ltd-Mr D N Duncan; Mersey Pilot- Mr N D Willcox; Employees of City Caterers- Mr W G Bath/Mr G H Dobells

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required