Leonard Thomas Gooch

A Stoker 1st Class with H.M. Submarine Triad, Leonard died on 20th of October 1940 at the age of 26. 

Son of Ernest Henry and Florence Maud Gooch of Blacksmiths Loke Lound.

Leonard was born at Coltishall, Norfolk, on 11 January 1914, a son of Ernest Henry and Florence Maud Gooch. By 1921 Leonard's family were living at Bridge Road, Ludham, and by 1939 they had moved to Blacksmith's Loke, Hopton. Subsequently they lived at 2 Widow's Cottages, Somerleyton. 

Leonard served in the Army for four years before joining the Royal Navy on 3 February 1938. He volunteered for the submarine service on 8 December 1939 but did not join the service until 22 April 1940. On 10 June 1940 he was drafted to H.M. Submarine Triad and he was a Seaman Torpedo Operator. 

On 9 October 1940 the Triad sailed from Malta to operate in the Gulf of Taranto and with instructions to arrive at Alexandria on 20 October. The submarine failed to arrive. Initially it was concluded that the Triad had either struck a mine or had been sunk by Italian aircraft, however a more recent account suggests that the Triad was sunk by the Italian submarine Enrico Toti during the night of 14-15 October 1940. The Triad was lost with all 59 crew, including Leonard. 

Leonard's sister, Lily Ray, was killed by a V-1 Rocket in 1944. His brother Arthur died in 1940 whilst serving in Egypt.