William Hayes Thomas was born at Chatham on 24 June 1884.  His service certificate records his occupation before joining the RN as a machinist.

He was killed by German shell fire after HMS E13 ran aground on the Danish Island of Saltholm on 19 August 1915.

He was buried at Cosheston, Pembrokeshire on 30 August 1915.  The funeral procession was led by a detachment of the Dockyard Division of the Metropolitan Police.  The band of the King’s Liverpool Regiment with muffled drums played the Chopin and Beethoven funeral marches and the regiment also provided a firing party.  There were also detachments of the King’s Own Shropshire Light Infantry and the Royal Engineers, as well as members of Pembroke Town Council.  Also in attendance were crews of trawlers and naval vessels led by Rear Admiral Grant, Capt Superintendent of Pembroke Dockyard  and General Driscott who commanded the Milford Haven defences.