Henry Ashley Roach

A Chief Engineman with H.M. Motor Minesweeper 101. Henry died on 29th of November 1944 at the age of 32.

Henry was born at Lowestoft on 6 October 1912, a son of Henry Ashley Roach and Harriet Elizabeth Roach. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 1 November 1912, and his family lived at 8 The Hemplands. By 1921 his family were living at 20 Melbourne Road, Lowestoft, and by 1944 at 5 Alexandra Road.

A file at the National Archives (ADM 199/165) shows that Henry's ship, H.M.M. Minesweeper 101, was clearing a minefield near Salonika, Greece, when, near sunset, on 29 November 1944, it set off a mine and was blown up. A large explosion occurred under the starboard of the ship and the ship completely disintegrated (this class of minesweeper was made of wood). Fifteen men were killed, including Henry, and there were three survivors. It may have been a contact mine that caused the explosion.  

Henry's uncle Sydney, aunt Jessie, and cousin Frank, were killed in an air raid at Lowestoft in 1941.