The steamship 'Walter Thomas' was a single screw, cargo vessel, built at the Jarrow yard of Palmer’s Ship Building & Iron Company Limited on the river Tyne. She was built for the Walter Thomas Steam Ship Company Limited being part of the fleet of Evan Thomas Radcliffe & Company of Cardiff. She was named after Captain Evan Thomas's only son Walter Hezekiah Thomas.

The vessel was of 2,213 gross and 1,412 net register tons being 287.0 ft. long x 37.4 ft. breath x 24.6 ft. deep. She was launched during April 1884 and completed by June.

Whilst en-route Penarth to Derindje with a cargo of coal, she was sunk following collision with the s.s. 'Romney' off Europa Point in the Straits of Gibraltar on the 12th July 1901. [102]

Loss of the s.s. Walter Thomas - 'The Indian mail steamer Persian, which arrived at Plymouth on Friday, had on board Captain J. R. Baker and the crew of the Cardiff steamer Walter Thomas, which foundered off Europa Point. near Gibraltar, after having been in collision with the steamer Romany, of London. The Walter Thomas was bound from Penarth to Derindje, in the Sea of Marmora, with a cargo of coal. She was struck on the port side, and was almost cut in twain. Seas rushed into the stokehole, and the engineering staff were driven to seek refuge on deck. Before leaving his charge, however, the chief engineer, Mr. Philip, pluckily released the safety valves, and so averted the possibility of the boilers exploding.

Within less than twenty minutes of the disaster the engine-room was untenable, and so rapidly was the water rising that it appeared as if every moment would see the vessel founder. Several of the crew clambered over the bows of the Romany before she backed clear of the Walter Thomas. The majority, however, had no such chance, as by the time they had rushed on deck the two steamers were a distance apart. Two boats were launched, and in these the remainder of the crew put off from the Walter Thomas, which by this time had water up to her deck and was steadily settling down.

Although the vessel floated about two hours after the collision, the crew lost the whole of their effects. The Romany, which had her bows stove in, was found to have her forepeak full of water. She put in at Gibraltar, and the crew of the Walter Thomas was landed there. Captain J. R. Baker, of the lost steamer, is an Exeter man, whilst the chief engineer was brought up in Plymouth, although his home is in Cardiff. Mr. Hughes, chief officer, in addition to the above-mentioned, and three others of the crew, landed at Plymouth. The second officer, Mr. Protheroe, and the rest of the crew went on to London in the Persia. The Walter Thomas belonged to Messrs. Evan Thomas, Radcliffe, and Co., of Cardiff.' - Weekly Mail [067] [361] 27th July 1901.

During the years 1882 to 1890 Palmer’s Ship Building & Iron Company Limited built no less than eleven vessels for Evan Thomas Radcliffe & Company of Cardiff. The Walter Thomas Steam Ship Company Limited was formed on the 5th October 1883. [221]