Telegraphist 

Thomas William 

 "Billy" 

RICHLIEU

Royal Navy

Died On:
Aged:
1 August 1940

19

Thomas William Richlieu was born in Bunbury, Chester on 31 July 1920, the son of William Richlieu and Sophia Richlieu (née Davies). At some time after his birth the family appear to have moved to Norton, Stockton on Tees. After leaving school he was employed at the Stockton Corporation Gas Works.

It is understood he may have joined the Royal Navy around 1938 and trained as a Telegraphist and served in the cruiser HMS SHEFFIELD. It is not known when he joined submarines or the mine laying submarine HMS NARWHAL but he was serving in that submarine as a Telegraphist in July 1940. HMS NARWHAL sailed from Blyth on 22 July 1940 with orders to lay a minefield off Kristiansund, Norway, and to return to Blyth on 1 August 1940. HMS NARWHAL was lost with all hands after an attack by a Dornier aircraft near Fro Havlet off Norway on 23 July 1940 – the date above is the official date when the submarine was declared lost.

Thomas Richlieu is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial on Panel 37, Column 2.


 

North-Eastern Gazette Thursday October 3rd, 1940 – Norton Man Lost In Submarine

Mr & Mrs W Richlieu of 17, Hury Road, Norton, Stockton have received news that their only son, Telegraphist Thomas Richlieu, has lost his life in H M Submarine NARWHAL. Telegraphist Richlieu. who was 20, has been in the Submarine Service for 2 ½ years. Prior to joining the Royal Navy he was employed by the Stockton Corporation Gas Works.

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One Response

  1. Billy was from Norton-on-Tees. Only son of William and Sophia Richlieu. He enlisted in The Royal Navy before the start of WW2, serving on HMS Sheffield. He then volunteered for submarines. On completion of training he was posted to HMS Narwhal, operating out of Blythe. He was killed on his very first patrol, when the submarine was sunk by an enemy aircraft. They had been proceeding on the surface towards Norway. His parents and sisters never knew the details of what happened to him. Several years ago some Polish divers discovered the wreck of HMS Narwhal whilst searching for one of their own WW2 submarines.

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