In Darlington West Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave, with a private headstone, of Lieutenant Douglas Ramsden Attwood, D.S.C., serving with the Royal Naval Reserve on H.M. Submarine G5 who died 24/11/1918.

The fallen headstone reads:

In loving memory of
Douglas Ramsden Attwood D.S.C.
Lieutenant, R.N.R.
Born Jan. 19th 1892
Died Nov. 24th 1918

“Joyful unto death”

Douglas Attwood was the son of Alfred Attwood, a Mechanical Engineer with Rio Tinto and the Vice Consul at Huelva, Mexico. and his wife Annie (nee Marley).

Commanding Officer. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross ‘in recognition of his services on the occasion of the torpedoing of an enemy submarine on the 3 November 1917. His advice and assistance materially helped towards the successful result obtained’. London Gazette 22/02/1918.  This was U-boat UC65 which had been responsible for sinking more than 110 Allied ships.

Suddenly taken ill and died of influenza in Northern General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Douglas Ramsden Attwood is remembered on our List of Ships’ Crews.