Thomas Richard's Story.
Birkenhead News 3 February 1915
Loss of the “Viknor”
CLAUGHTON ROAD VICTIM
Mrs. Price, of 9, Davies Street, Claughton Road, has received official intimation of the death of her son, Able Seaman Thomas Price. He had been a member of the Royal Naval Reserves for three years, and on the outbreak of hostilities was called up. He took part in the defence of Antwerp, after which he was home on Furlough for a fortnight. He was then placed on the “Viknor” and the last letter that his mother received from him was on Christmas Day when he said he was quite well and happy. Seaman Price was apprenticed as an iron-sheet worker at Messrs. Cammell Laird and Co’s and was only 18 years of age. He has another brother who has joined the “Bantams”. The latter is now the sole support of the household.
HMS Viknor
Built in 1888 and originally named RMS Atrato she operated as Royal Mail Ship and ocean liner. In 1912 the ship was sold to a cruise company and renamed The Viking. With the outbreak of war in 1914 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty, armed as merchant cruiser, and renamed HMS Viknor.
During the first weeks of 1915 the HMS Viknor was patrolling off the north coast of Scotland when she was ordered to intercept a neutral Norwegian vessel, who the military suspected was carrying a German spy. HMS Viknor began to return to port in Liverpool; however on 13th January in heavy seas off Tory Island, County Donegal, she sank without sending a distress signal. All the crew aboard were lost. Some wreckage and many bodies were washed ashore on the north coast of Ireland and Scotland.
It has never been fully established the cause of the sinking, however the wreck was discovered in 2006 by an Irish survey vessel and because of the location it is thought that the Viknor may have struck a German mine, as a minefield was known to be in the vicinity.
Thomas Price's photograph, research and newspaper article by Chris Booth