Uncle Len

Growing up, Uncle Len was the story that was told quite frequently in our house. It may be because my Mum had his letters and some pictures from his time in training. During World War II, Uncle Len (my mother's uncle) signed up to join the war effort. He was a boy telegraphist in the Royal Navy. These were usually young and bright boys. Uncle Len expressed in one of his letters that the tests were difficult. Unfortunately, Len's ship was struck, and he was pronounced missing, presumed killed. 

When Uncle Len was getting ready to head out on the HMS Cornwall, my Grandad came to visit him. Together they sat on the grass outside the barracks. Len expressed that he was scared about going, and my Grandad was tasked with comforting him. I wonder how hard it was for my Grandad to leave Len, knowing that he was afraid and not knowing if they would ever see each other again. 

There is so much more to Len's story that I don't know, but I do know that my Grandad loved his brother deeply. 

These two boys were extremely close. My mum recalled her Dad telling her that they weren't very nice to their step-mum. Their step-mum baked a pie, and the two boys ate it without her knowing. They were cheeky and naughty boys. It sounds like they had lots of fun causing trouble together. I can't imagine the heartbreak my Grandad experienced when he received the news about Len. 

Len was aboard the HMS Cornwall when it was struck and hit on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1942, by a Japanese dive bomber. 

"The cruiser took at least seven hits and numerous near misses that also did considerable damage. The after engine room and both boiler rooms were flooded and electrical power was disrupted. The forward engine room took a direct hit as did the sick bay. With a list to port and fires raging out of control, Captain Manwaring ordered “abandon ship” at 1:58 pm. Cornwall capsized four minutes later. "  (https://warfarehistorynetwork.com)

10 officers and 181 men were lost. 

I never had the opportunity to meet Uncle Len in this life, but I feel like I know him better through family history. Each photograph, letter, and document is a window into Len's life, helping me see his hopes, struggles, and joys. As I learn more about his life, I begin to recognize pieces of myself reflected in him. 

In exploring our family history, we don’t just honor their memory — we deepen our own sense of identity and belonging. Family history reminds us that the past is not distant; it lives on in us, and through these connections, our relatives become companions on our own journey.