Royal Engineers, Railway Construction Company 116, Service no. 2183819
Born: 28th November 1905. Killed in action: 17th June 1940, aged 34
Story
Thomas was born in Garforth, and was the son of Edward Varley Siberry (1875-1954) and Annie Elizabeth Whitaker (1877-1973, pictured below). As Annie lived to such a long age, she featured in the local press on several occasions.
Thomas was a lorry driver before the War, and married Phyllis May Gummerson in Kippax on 26th August 1932 (pictured below). The couple moved to Collingham, where Thomas was well known as a sportsman, and was also society steward of the Methodist Church. He enlisted in October 1939, and acted as chauffer to his Commanding Officer.
Thomas was reported missing 9th August 1940, and was confirmed as deceased on 29th November 1940, when his body washed up on the beach at St. Nazaire, France. He was buried at La Bernerie Cemetery, France, Row B Grave 26. The inscription on his grave reads: “THE PART OF YOU I LOVED LIES NOT IN CLAY, BUT LIVES, AND WE SHALL MEET SOME DAY”
Thomas was among around 4,000 men, women and children who lost their lives when RMS Lancastria (above left) sank 20 minutes after it was hit 3 times by German Junkers Ju 88 bomber aircraft near the French port of Saint-Nazaire on 17 June 1940 at 3:48pm. Fewer than 2,500 people survived of around 9,000 on board. The Lancastria was the largest loss of life from a single engagement for British forces in World War Two and is also the largest loss of life in British maritime history – greater than the Titanic and Lusitania combined. The Lancastria was a Cunard Ocean Liner, with a 2,200-person capacity, and had been requisitioned to assist in the War effort. Two weeks after the evacuation from Dunkirk, ships were still recovering British Soldiers, British nationals and refugees from France. The Captain of the Lancastria, Rudolph Sharp, was told that he should take as many people as he possibly could “without regard to the limits of International Law”, which is why so many were on board (as seen above right), and so few had time to escape. Following the sinking of the Lancastria (pictured below left), Prime Minister Winston Churchill imposed a media blackout, as the government feared what the news would do the British nation in the midst of its darkest hour. Captain Rudolph Sharp (pictured below right) had been advised to leave the French Coast, but chose to delay departure fearing German U-boats would attack if he had no escort. He was one of the survivors of the Lancastria, and went on to command another vessel, the Laconia, another converted ocean liner. The Laconia was torpedoed by German submarines off the coast of West Africa in 1942, with the loss of an estimated 1,600 lives, and is Britain’s second worst maritime disaster in history, after the Lancastria. On the Laconia, Captain Sharp reportedly ensured the women and children were placed in lifeboats, then walked to his cabin, locked the door and went down with the ship.
Kippax Roll of Honour 