Cyril Frank Catchpole

A Civilian, Cyril died on 11th of September 1940, aged 25. Cyril was a Lightshipman on the Trinity House Light Vessel at South Goodwin.

Cyril was born on 7 December 1914, a son of Cyril and Madeline Catchpole. Cyril was baptised at Saint Edmund's Church, Kessingland, on 4 July 1915 and at that time his family were living at Fern Cottage, Kessingland. Cyril's father served with the Royal Naval Reserve during the First World War.

The 1939 Register shows Cyril's address as Davies Cottages, Kessingland Beach, Lowestoft, and shows that he worked as a seaman. 

Cyril worked as one of the crew of the South Goodwin Lightship. On 11 September 1940 he was at Dover. On this day the Germans both shelled and bombed the port and whilst at Trinity Wharf, Dover, Cyril was injured by the shelling and he died the same day en route to the Casualty Hospital, Union Road, Dover. (Note some sources suggest he had died at Trinity Wharf). The South Goodwin Lightship was itself sunk by the Germans on 21 October 1940. 

Cyril was buried at Saint Edmunds Churchyard, Kessingland, on 18 September 1940, and the burial register has the marginal note 'Killed at Dover by German shell'.

(With thanks to Andy Pearce for additional details)