Patrick Roy Furrell

A Supply Petty Officer, Patrick died on 27th March 1943, at the age of 26. 

Patrick was born on 20 July 1917, a son of Roy Onesley and Hilda May Furrell of Wales Farm Road, Acton, London. 

Patrick was serving in the Royal Navy when he met Dorothy Jane Colby, who was in the Women's Royal Naval Service. They were married at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 18 December 1940.  

Dorothy was a daughter of Dorothy May Martin, formerly Colby. The family lived at 8 Coastguard Cottages, Battery Green Road, Lowestoft. 

Dorothy Jane's father, William Walter Colby, served on H.M. Trawler Bracklyn and was killed in the First World War. 

Patrick was serving on board H.M.S. Dasher when he died. The 'Dasher' was an American merchant ship that had been converted for use as an aircraft carrier. In March 1943 the 'Dasher' had been on convoy duties and was returning to port when it entered the Firth of Clyde. A catastrophic explosion took place which sank the ship and 379 of the 528 crew, including Patrick, died. The reason for the explosion is the subject of much debate. Because the ship was American and there were questions about its construction, the government covered-up news of the sinking and newspapers were instructed to make no mention of the incident. Survivors were also under orders not to speak of what had happened. 

Patrick's wife's father, William Walter Colby, served in the Royal Naval Reserve and died in 1917.