Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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M16047   Carpenter's Crew Thomas McKeown
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 03/06/2024
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: HMS Natal, Royal Navy (British Navy)
Date Of Birth: 31/07/1890
Died: 30/12/1915 (Died at Sea)
Age: 25
Summary      
Thomas was the youngest son of Samuel McKeown of Burn Road, Cookstown, a building contractor. Thomas joined the Royal Navy and was serving on H.M.S. Natal as part of the carpenter’s crew. Natal was at anchor in Cromarty Firth when she exploded on the afternoon of 30th December 1915. 388 members of the crew lost their lives in the explosion including Thomas McKeown.
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 Thomas McKeown
Cemetery Details
Grave
Cemetery: Chatham Naval Memorial
  Chatham, Kent, 
Grave Ref: Memorial 12
CWGC Casualty 4004545
Summary      
From the Brompton Barracks Chatham - At the traffic signals turn right onto Globe Lane - A231 (signposted 'Historic Dockyards'). Keep in left hand lane then turn left onto Dock Road (signposted Gillingham). At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Wood Street - A231 (signposted Gillingham). Turn Right on Mansion Row (The memorial is signposted from here), then 1st left on Sally Port Gardens and finally 1st right on King's Bastion. Follow road through the housing estate, the car park to the memorial is at the end of this road. The Memorial overlooks the town of Chatham and is approached by a steep path from the Town Hall Gardens. A copy of the Memorial Register is kept in the Naval Chapel of Brompton Garrison Church and may be consulted there.
Local Memorial Details

No Memorial Name Townland
1 Cookstown Cenotaph WWI - West Panel 2018 Cookstown
2 Cookstown Cenotaph WWI - West Panel 1927 Cookstown
3 First Cookstown Presbyterian Roll Of Honour Cookstown
Local Institute / Local Book Details

No Name Page
1 Cookstown War Dead Book WW1 99
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists McKeown family 1901 census lists Thomas as age 11 at house 24 in Loy, Cookstown
2 1911 Census lists McKeown family 1911 census lists Thomas as age 20 at house 1 in Burn Road, Cookstown
3 FindAGrave.com Photo of Stoker James Devlin's inscription
4 National Archives UK - Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services card can be purchased here
5 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Thomas McKeown's inscription can be purchased here
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023