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On the outbreak of war in 1914, Thompson's yard was selected by the Admiralty to develop a special kind of merchant ship, a standard type of cargo vessel of 5,200 tons called the "F-Type". A simple design of a bulk oil carrier called the "A-Type" was also built. Robert achieved the rank of Major during the war. High hopes for commercial advance after the war were not realized as a depression hit the country. Orders fluctuated up and down in the 1920's, and in the first half of the 1930's not a single order came in. The first new order came in 1935 with the Embassage, Ship number 572, for Hall Brothers. |
It was to a modern design drawn up by Sir R. Norman Thompson and his eldest son, R. Cyril with a skeleton staff during the dead years of the long depression. From then on, business picked up, and was very good for nearly 40 years.
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Helena Victoria was born on 22 July 1883, one of thirteen children of John Young Short, shipbuilder, and Mary Ada Smart. Helena married R. Norman Thompson on 6 June 1906. She died 4 March 1952 at age 68. |
Birth of Parents
Robert Cyril Born 31 May 1907 Bishopwearmouth Married Doreen Hermine Allan John Victor Born 10 Jul 1909 Bishopwearmouth Married Mary Theresa Nattrass Mary Joyce Born 25 Sep 1910 Bishopwearmouth Married Dr. Robert Dennis Burn
Robert Norman Thompson |
b: 2 Jul 1878 c: 22 Jan 1879 Monkwearmouth Venerable Bede Parish son of Robert and Georgiana Thompson of West House, shipbuilder 1878 3Q Sunderland 10a 683 |
Helena Victoria Short |
b: 22 Jul 1883 c: 8 Jul 1888 Grange Church, Sunderland 1883 3Q Sunderland 10a 612 daughter of John Young Short and Mary Ada Smart, The Elms East |
6 Jun 1906 Robert Norman Thompson (27) Helena Victoria Short (22) |
Christ Church, Bishopwearmouth 1906 2Q Sunderland 10a 1196 Bachelor, Shipbuilder, 20 Azalea Terrace, Father: Robert Thompson, Shipbuilder Spinster, Ashbrook Hall, Father: John Young Short, (Deceased) after Banns, Wit: Stanley M. Thompson, Mary Ada Short |
THOMPSON - SHORT - On the 6th June, at Christ Church, by the Rev, G. C. Hopkinson, M.A., Robert Norman, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thompson, of Over Dinsdale Hall, Darlington, to Helena Victoria, fourth daughter of the late John Y. Short and Mrs. Short, of Ashbrooke Hall, Sunderland. |
Robert Cyril Thompson |
b: 31 May 1907 c: 2 Jul 1907 Christ Church, Bishopwearmouth son of Robert Norman and Helena Victoria Thompson, Belford House, Shipbuilder 1907 3Q Sunderland 10a 643 |
John Victor Thompson |
b: 10 Jul 1909 c: 26 Aug 1909 Christ Church, Bishopwearmouth son of Robert Norman and Helena Victoria Thompson, Belford House, Shipbuilder 1909 3Q Sunderland 10a 670 |
Mary Joyce Thompson |
b: 25 Sept 1910 c: 28 Nov 1910 Christ Church, Bishopwearmouth daughter of Robert Norman and Helena Victoria Thompson, Belford House, Shipbuilder |
10 July 1909 BIRTH THOMPSON - At Belford House, Sunderland, on the 10th inst. to Mr. and Mrs. R. Norman Thompson, a son. |
25 September 1910 BIRTH THOMPSON - On the 25th inst. to Mr. and Mrs. R. Norman Thompson, a daughter. |
Sir Robert Norman Thompson |
2 Oct 1951, Age 73, at Belford House 1951 4Q Sunderland 10a 919 Burial 5 Oct 1951, Mere Knolls Cemetery |
The Times, Wednesday, Oct 3, 1951 OBITUARY Sir Robert Thompson Sir Robert Norman Thompson, chairman of Joseph L. Thompson and Sons, Limited, the Sunderland Shipbuilders, and a great grandson of the founder of the firm, died at his home in Sunderland, yesterday, aged 73. He was a former chairman of the Wear Shipbuilders' Association, a liveryman of the Company of Shipwrights, and a former member of the committee of Lloyd's Register of Shipping. His other activities included at one time the chairmanship of the Silver Line, Limited, of London, and directorships in firms connected with shipbuilding, including that of Sir James Laing and Sons, Limited. He was knighted in 1946. In 1906 he married Helena Victoria, daughter of Mr J. Y. Short, of Sunderland. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and one daughter. |
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Helena Victoria (Short) Thompson |
4 Mar 1952, Age 68, at Belford House, Belford Terrace West Burial 7 Mar 1952, Mere Knolls Cemetery 1952 1Q Sunderland 10a 1113 |
Lady Thompson, widow of Major Sir Robert Norman Thompson, died at her home at Sunderland on Tuesday. She was Helena Victoria, daughter of Mr. J. Y. Short, of Sunderland, and her marriage took place in 1906. Her husband died last year. |
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROBERT NORMAN THOMPSON SECOND SON OF ROBERT THOMPSON DIED OCT. 2ND 1951 AGED 73 YEARS ALSO OF HIS WIFE HELENA VICTORIA DIED MARCH 4 1952 AGED 68 YEARS | |
Monkwearmouth MERE KNOLLS CEMETERY PHOTOS BY T.G. WHITE |