Harold Naylor 1925-1944 age 18

Barnsley Chronicle 22nd April 1944
Thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1925 in Barnsley Q2

Son of: Charles Henry Naylor (1883-1959, died age 75) and Martha Jane Naylor, nee Wilson, previously Wiggins (1897-1977, died age 80). The couple married in St Edward's Church on 24th December 1921. It was the second marriage for both of them, both previous partners having died. They both lived in Dyson Street, Barnsley, Charles at number 19, and Martha at number 1. Charles had 2 children from his previous marriage, Wilfred born in 1905 and Evelyn born in 1908. The death column entry after their son Harold's death also refers to a brother called Fred. 

Harold was unmarried, and his family lived at 30 Cemetery Road, Barnsley at the time of his death. 

Military Service: Harold was a Wireless mechanic in the Royal Navy, service number D/MX 505600, serving on H.M.S. Penelope.  

Death: 18th February 1944, killed in action when H.M.S.Penelope was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. 

H.M.S. Penelope had been holed so many times by bomb fragments that she was nicknamed HMS Pepperpot. She took part in the assault on Anzio, Italy providing gunpower support in January 1944. She also assisted later on in the bombardment of the Formia area. On 18th February 1944 she was leaving Naples to return to the Anzio area when she was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine. A second torpedo caused her immediate sinking which resulted in the loss of 417 lives. 206 survived. 

Remembered: Harold has no known grave and is remembered on The Plymouth Naval Memorial on panel 91, column 1. He is also remembered on St Edward's WW2 Memorial plaque, Barnsley  

Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: here  

Notes:
From The Barnsley Chronicle of 22nd February 1944

Barnsley Naval Casualty

The news has just been received by Mr and Mrs Naylor, 30, Cemetery Road, Barnsley, that their son, Wireless Mechanic Harold Naylor (18) R.N. is reported missing presumed killed during February while serving on HMS Penelope which was sunk. 
W./M.Naylor who joined the Navy nearly a year ago had been overseas since January of this year. While on the Penelope he was in the same mess as another Barnsley sailor, A.B. A. Beevers, Barugh Green Road, Redbrook who was also reported missing presumed killed. Before the war W./M. Naylor was employed at the Electricity Works and attended Racecommon road School.  

Research by James Corbett and Gill Brookes of St Edward's Church, Barnsley