Charles William Sayer

An Able Seaman with H.M.S. Elfin, Charles died on 16th of May 1943 aged 25. 

Charles was born at Lowestoft on 25 February 1918, a son of Sidney George and Mabel Dorothy Sayer. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 7 April 1918 and his family lived at 67 Roman Road. By 1921 his family were living at 87 Queen’s Road. Later his parents lived at Newlyn, Cornwall.

Charles married Evelyn Jessie Lee in early 1943. She lived at 52 Kirkley Run.

Charles joined the Royal Navy in 1933. In May 1943 he was serving at H.M.S. Elfin, the submarine base, at Blyth, Northumberland. 

On 16 May 1943 Charles was on guard duty. Toward the end of his duty, he took his own life and an inquest concluded that he had died from a self-inflicted bullet wound whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed. No one at the inquest could offer any reason why Charles would take his own life.

Note that Commonwealth War Graves records state that he served with H.M.S. Dolphin, whereas the Royal Navy War Graves records shown that he was serving with H.M.S. Elfin and died at Blyth.