Ronald Ernest Albrow

A Leading Seaman with H.M. Submarine Grampus, Ronald died on 24th of June 1940 at the age of 33. 

Ronald was born at Lowestoft on 30 May 1906, a son of Edward Charles and Ethel May Albrow. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 22 June 1906, and his family lived at 12 Beckham Road. By 1911 his family were living at 87 Roman Road and this was still their home in 1921 when Ronald worked as a junior clerk for Colby Brothers, Shipbuilders, at Oulton Broad. Ronald's parents were still living at 87 Roman Road in 1939. 

Ronald was working as a box maker when he joined the Royal Navy, on 14 January 1922, to serve as a Boy 2nd Class. He was advanced to Able Seaman on 2 February 1925. Ronald volunteered for the submarine service on 27 March 1933 and joined H.M.S. Dolphin. He was drafted to H.M. Submarine L.55 on 4 May 1933 and H.M. Submarine Perseus on 28 August 1935. From 2 March 1936 he served with H.M. Submarine L.32 and joined H.M. Submarine Odin on 19 December 1939. Ronald was advanced to Leading Seaman on 19 August 1938 and was a 'LR3' or Layer Rating 3rd Class. In 1939 Ronald was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 

From 17 January 1940 Ronald served on the minelaying submarine H.M.S. Grampus which sailed for Alexandria in April 1940. On 13 May 1940 the Grampus arrived at Malta and shortly afterwards began her first war patrol. The Grampus is believed to have been sunk by Italian torpedo boats, off Syracuse, on 16 June 1940. It is not clear why Ronald's date of death is given as 24 June 1940.   

Ronald married Violet Elizabeth Wright, at Portsmouth, in 1930. Violet came from Lowestoft and in 1939 she lived at 1 Roberts Buildings, Whapload Road, and she worked as a waitress 'for H. M. Forces'. After World War Two Violet lived at 6 Wesley Street, Lowestoft. 

Ronald's father died in 1943 during an air-raid on Lowestoft.