Roland Morton Utting

A Skipper with H.M. Drifter Maida, Roland died on 16th of March 1940. 

Roland was born at Kessingland on 16 May 1911, a son of Roland Henry and Helena Letitia Utting. He was baptised at Saint Edmunds Church, Kessingland, on 29 October 1911 and his family lived at Green Lane. In 1921 his family were still living at Green Lane. 

In 1936 Roland was awarded his certificate of competency as a Skipper. By 1939 Roland's father had died and he lived with his mother at 9 Green Lane, Kessingland. 

From 7 September 1939 Roland served as a Skipper with the Royal Naval Reserve (Patrol Service), with number WS 3000 (later TS 119). On 22 November 1939 he joined H.M.S. Drake; from 7 December 1939 with H.M.S. Lochinvar; from 21 December 1939 with H.M.S. Pembroke X. On 4 January 1940 he took command, as Skipper, of H.M. Drifter Maida. 

The Maida was used in minesweeping duties and was sunk by a mine off Margate, ten miles east of North Foreland. Six of the crew, including Roland, were killed and six rescued by the minesweeping drifter Mare.