Charles William Brady

A Deck hand with HM Drifter Datum, Charles William died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 20. 

Charles was born on 5 March 1896, a son of Samuel George and Lucy Ann Brady. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 1 April 1896, and his family lived at 5 Wesley Street, and this was still their home in 1901. By 1911 they were living at 1 Bishop’s Building, Mariners Street. Later Charles’ family lived at 21 Chapel Street. 

Charles joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 January 1915 and from 16 January 1915 he served on the trawler Datum. 

On the night of 26-27 October 1916 the Datum, along with several other Lowestoft trawlers in the Dover Patrol, was attacked by German destroyers and sank with the loss of all hands.   

For details of the attack on the Dover Barrage see: The German attack on the 'Dover Barrage' 26th/27th October 1916 (sussexhistoryforum.co.uk)

Charles' brother Henry served in the Royal Artillery and died in 1945. Charles' sister-in-law Daisy and his nephew Ivan died in an air raid in 1941.