Thomas Francis Freer, Chief Mechanician, P/K 63476, was born in Helmsley, Yorkshire on December 19th, 1900. He was the son of William War Freer, a shepherd, and his wife Elizabeth, née Shaw. In 1918, he was working as a groom. He married Annie Pinkney in 1928, and the couple had a daughter, who was eleven in 1941.
Thomas enlisted in the Royal Navy for a twelve-year period starting on January 3rd 1919. He served continuously until his death, and was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1934. Despite being from a rural background, he attained the position of Chief Mechanician. He survived the sinking of HMS Royal Oak on October 14th, 1939 only to lose his life on his next ship, HMS Dunedin, which he joined on November 19th,1940.