Alfred Thomas Cook

A Deck Hand with H.M.S. Q20., Alfred died on 29th of March 1917 at the age of 18. 

Alfred was born at Lowestoft on 21 December 1898, a son of Joseph and Sabina Cook. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 13 January 1899, and his family lived at 3 Cook’s Buildings. In 1911 they were still living at 3 Cooke’s Buildings, but in 1915 their address was 2 Cooke’s Buildings. Later his family lived at 16 Waveney Terrace, Whapload Road.

Alfred joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 15 July 1915, addin two years to his age. He served on the trawler Friends. On 16 April 1916 he joined the trawler Test II, and on 30 June 1916 the trawler Babs. Alfred joined H.M.S. Q 20 on 17 January 1917. 

H.M.S. Q 20 was a motor lugger, fishing vessel, built in 1908. The vessel also went under a number of different names, including: H.M.S. Bayard, Ledger 898, and Syren. Technically a ‘Q ship’ the lugger was fitted with one 13 pounder and one 3 pounder gun and would be ‘disguised’ until it came upon an enemy submarine, or other boat, at which point the ‘Q ship’ would engage the enemy. On 11 March 1917 the Q 20 engaged two enemy submarines and damaged one of them. 

On 29 March 1917 the Q 20 was in the English Channel and collided with the S.S. Tainui. The Q 20 sank with the loss of 16 crew.