Like Mark Scotter who was killed in 1917, Tom was a lot older than the required conscription age, but as he was serving aboard a fishing drifter, the Whitham, at the time war was announced and the drifter requisitioned he was allowed to stay.  Again, the boat was attached to the Royal Naval Reserve and put out to patrol the coastline.  Whilst on one such patrol on his 54^th birthday, Tom was taken ill, and the ship was forced to put to shore at Grimsby; as soon as they reached the hospital Tom was diagnosed as having double pneumonia.  His wife, Adah was contacted at their house at 21, Victoria Avenue and told of her husband’s critical state.  He died two days later and was brought back to Filey for burial.