THOMAS FILMER

Ipswich War Memorial | Posted on 29th September 2016 |

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG”: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

Picture from the Evening Star – May 1941.

TOM

Born: 21st December 1918, Rainham, Kent.

Died: 10th March 1941; age: 23; Drowned – mined in the English Channel whilst in convoy off Dungeness.

Residence: 1, Belstead Road, Ipswich.

Rank: Able Seaman.

Regiment: Merchant Navy, S.S.’Corinia’ (Workington).

Grave Reference:

Joint Grave 26.

St. James’s Cemetery,

Dover,

Kent.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Henry James & Alice Filmer, of Ipswich.

Father: Henry James Filmer, born 1885, Rainham, Kent.

Mother: Alice Filmer (nee Stannard), born March 1893, Ipswich.

CENSUS

1921 261, Station Road, Rainham, Kent.

Thomas was 2 years and 6 months old and lived with his parents, siblings, maternal aunts and cousins.

Henry Filmer, 35 years & 6 months old, Barge Captain for the London and Rochester Barge Trading Co. Ltd.

Alice Filmer, 26 years & 3 months old, Home Duties.

Emily May Filmer, 6 years & 1 month old, at School, born Ipswich.

William Henry James Filmer, 4 years & 8 months old, born Rainham.

Irene Dorothy Filmer, 7 months old, born Rainham.

Emily Eastland (nee Stannard), 23 years & 3 months old, Home Duties, born Ipswich.

George Colin Eastland, 4 years & 10 months old, born Ipswich.

Frederick Horace James Eastland, 18 months old, born Ipswich.

Emma Stannard, 20 years & 8 months old, a Leather Stainer for Turner & Co., of Princes Street, Ipswich.

10th March 1941

The S.S.’Corinia’ was on a coastal convoy from Blyth to Cowes, she was carrying coal. She stuck a mine in the Straits of Dover. 9 lives were lost.

A family note from Norman Millhouse :

My father was a survivor of the Corinia, Able Seaman Wilfred Roy Millhouse, a gunner.

His recollection of the sinking of the SS Corinia was being on the bridge, she was escorted by two naval vessels in parallel and the one opposite flashed “You’re off course follow us” to which the one leading their convoy replied, “No you’re off course follow us ” shortly after the ship in front of the Corinia blew up then the one behind them, my father remembered a voice fading shouting ” jump lofty! ” (his nickname). He remembered seeing the deck over him as he frantically swam away on his back and was sure he wouldn’t survive but the ship slid away leaving him alone. After a while, he remembered feeling warm and the water felt like a feather mattress and he wanted to go to sleep, obviously hypothermia was taking over, luckily he was picked up by a searchlight on a rescue boat and his ordeal was over.