Charles Henry Doy

A Second Hand with H.M. Drifter Launch Out. Charles died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 38.

Charles was born at Lowestoft on 9 October 1878, a son of Charles and Harriett Doy. In 1881 his family lived at 58 Clemence Street.  

In 1901 Charles was a seaman on the trawler Rose Bud, LT 594, at Newlyn. Charles was awarded his certificate of competency as a Second Hand in 1905. 

On 26 January 1902 Charles married Emily Matilda Wade at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Charles was a fisherman and they both gave their address as at 31 Stanford Street. By 1911 they were living at 117A Bevan Street and Charles was a fish monger. For a time, they lived at Yarmouth Road, Heckingham. Later Emily lived at 73 Sussex Road, Lowestoft.

Charles first enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve in 1895, in August 1914 his service number was 1258 C. He was awarded the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service Medal in 1910. Charles was called out for service on 3 August 1914, and he served on the Armed Merchant Cruiser Mantua. As he had completed his period of service he was discharged, at his own request, on 1 April 1915. Charles re-enrolled with the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 September 1915 and served with the trawler Launch Out.  

The Launch Out was one of a number of Lowestoft trawlers, in the Dover Patrol, that were attacked by German destroyers during the night of 26-27 October 1916. The Launch Out stayed afloat before sinking. Eight crew, including Charles, were killed and the Skipper, Horace Kemp, died of his wounds two days later. 

For details of the attack on the Dover Barrage see: The German attack on the 'Dover Barrage' 26th/27th October 1916 (sussexhistoryforum.co.uk)