Alexander Alfred Soanes

A Skipper with H.M. Trawler Orfasy, Alexander died on 22nd of October 1943 at the age of 35.

Alexander was born at Beccles on 30 August 1907, a son of Charles Benjamin and Harriet Mary Soanes. By 1911 his family were living at 4 Pretoria Terrace, Hall Road, Oulton Broad. In 1921 they lived at Waveney Cottages, Aldeby. 

On 11 January 1937 Alexander, also known as Alec, married Ethel Agnes Hooks at Saint Edmund's Church, Kessingland. Alexander was living at Oulton Broad and working as a fisherman and Ethel lived at Kessingland. In 1939 they lived at 4 Elm Cottages, High Street, Kessingland, and Alexander was a fisherman (weekly articles). 

Alexander served as a Seaman, and later a Second Hand, with the Royal Naval Reserve from 7 December 1939. He was awarded the Anti-Submarine and Minesweeping Badge in 1941 and his certificate of competency as a Skipper in 1942. he was promoted to Acting Temporary Skipper on 1 March 1943 and served with the Orfasy from that date. 

Alexander was on board the minesweeping trawler Orfasy when it was sunk by a torpedo from German submarine U-97 about 185 miles south-east of Freetown. All thirty-four crew, including Alexander, where killed.