I had never known of anyone in my family dying in World War II. My mother always mentioned she had an uncle who never came home from the First World War and that she also had an uncle who was badly affected by mustard gas. However, while doing my family's genealogy I came across a sad episode.

Chesley was a year younger than my father, they grew up in the same fishing village in Newfoundland, and they both joined the British Navy during World War II. Chesley died in the war. Yet, my father never talked about it. No one in my family has ever talked about it. My father never mentioned anything about the war to me and he didn't say much to my older sisters either. I do know that my father ended up working radar on a submarine, which explained some of his hearing loss.

Chesley was the grandson of my great-uncle. He died when the destroyer he was on was attacked by a German u-boat on October 18th, 1941. The HMS Broadwater was sunk and forty-five men died. Here is an eyewitness account. His name, and that of the others who died on the HMS Broadwater, appears on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. His final resting place is at the bottom of the North Atlantic. It seems fitting somehow; he came from a long line of fishermen who made their living out of the sea.

I can't stop thinking about Chesley and how sad it was that he never got the chance to live out his life. Twenty-two is so young, too young to die.

Nationality:United Kingdom

Rank:Able Seaman

Regiment/Service:Royal Navy

Unit Text:H.M.S. Broadwater

Age:22

Date of Death:18/10/1941

Service No:D/JX 246694

Additional information:Son of John and Eliza

Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference:Panel 56, Column 1.Memorial:PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL