Thomas Warren Peters

S.S. Stanburn 

 S.S. Stanburn was a British cargo ship, built in 1924, and was originally called Hebburn.  Changed its name to Stanburn in 1938.

January 1940 Stanburn, was bombed and sunk by German aircraft, also reports of machine gun fire on the survivors in the ship’s lifeboats.  22 of the 25 crew were killed in the incident, including the captain.  The three survivors were picked up be the steamer Gripfast which itself had survived an aircraft attack.

Listed below are the casualties from the ship.

Surname	Forename	Age	Rank	Cemetery/Memorial
Aldred	Leslie	18	Cabin Boy	Gateshead East Cemetery
Brown	Robert C.	17	Ordinary Seaman	Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery
Connor	John	29	Fireman and Trimmer	Gateshead East Cemetery
Donkin	Dennis John	25	Able Seaman	Hull Crematorium
Fenwick	David	23	Second Officer	Cadoxton-Juxta-Neath (Ss. Cattwg And Illtyd) Churchyard
Fowler	John	44	Fireman and Trimmer	Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (Byker And Heaton) Cemetery
Gibson	Frank	38	Third Engineer Officer	Hull Western Cemetery
Goddard	James Pirnie	48	Cook	Middlesbrough (Linthorpe) Cemetery
Hartley	Thomas	30	Radio Officer	Redcar Cemetery
Johnson	Henry Davis	27	Ships Cook	Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery
Johnson	Ronald	22	Sailor	Tower Hill Memorial
Jones	Matthew James	39	Third Officer	Llanddewi-Aberarth (St. David) Churchyard
Lewis	Christopher David	40	Master	Llansantffread (St. Bridget) Churchyard
Lewis	David Merville	20	Ordinary Sailor	Tower Hill Memorial
Main	George Walker	43	Chief Engineer Officer	Tower Hill Memorial
Mowbrey	Thomas Henry	18	Mess Room Boy	Middlesbrough (Linthorpe) Cemetery
McHugh	James	39	Donkeyman	Tower Hill Memorial
Nelson	William Donald	26	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial
Newmarch	Edward	59	Chief Officer	Tower Hill Memorial
Peters	Thomas Warren	57	Second Engineer Officer	Swansea (Danygraig) Cemetery
Potts	John	33	Boatswain	Blyth Cemetery
Powell	Norman	26	Fireman and Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial
Proctor	Norman	21	Sailor	Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (All Saints) Cemetery
Ridley	George	34	Fireman and Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial
Routledge	George Elliott		Fireman and Trimmer	Bridlington Cemetery

 

Thomas Warren Peters, was born in Pembroke in 1883, was the son of David Peters.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the Peters family were living ate 2 George Street, Llanelly.

1891 Census

David 40 years was employed as a Railway Engine Driver.  Mary Ann was 39 years.  Their children were Walter, 11; Mary, 10; Thomas, 8 and 4-year-old Robert.

By the time of the 1901 Census, the family had moved 9 Herbert Road, Neath.

1901 Census

David, 50 was employed as a Loco Foreman.  Mary was 49 years.

The children present at home at this time were Mary, 19; Thomas W., 18 who was employed as a Apprentice Engine Fitter, and, Robert J., 14.

During the First World War, Thomas, served with the Mercantile Marine.

Thomas Warren Peters
Medal Card
credit - National Archives

May 1919, Thomas married Mary Letitia Harris, at St. James church.

Thomas Warren Peters and Mary Letitia Harris
marriage certificate
St. James church

Thomas Warren Peters 
Danygraig Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Following the sinking of S.S. Stanburn, Thomas’s body was recovered and was brought back home to Swansea for burial at Danygraig Cemetery.

Merchant Seamen Death
1939 - 1953