In Newcastle upon Tyne (All Saints) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:
H. Gilroy
Able Seaman, RNVR, C/TDX1313
H.M.S. Walpole
28th December 1939 age 24
In the midst of life
We are in death
The son of Henry and Alice Gilroy, of Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Newcastle Evening Chronicle 30/12/1939 reports:-
Fatal Leap To Ferry Boat By Newcastle Naval Man
A graphic story was told to-day of how a Newcastle naval man’s anxiety not to overstay his leave led to him taking a fatal leap in the dark from the landing stage to a moving ferry.
The story was told by a boy bugler at an inquest at Liverpool on Henry Gilroy (24), whose home was in Stepney Lane, Newcastle.
The boy stated that he met Gilroy on a tram-car, and undertook to show him the way to the ferry boat. “We ran for the boat,” he said, “and saw it was just beginning to leave the stage. Gilroy got under the guard chains and jumped two yards for it. He landed on the fender of the boat, but failed to retain his hold and fell into the backwash of the propellers.
Rescued by Tug
“I shouted for help and saw him float towards a tugboat. He was lifted out of the water by members of the crew.”
Evidence was given that Gilroy responded to artificial respiration, but afterwards died from shock of the immersion.
A naval lieutenant stated that owing to the hard service at sea the Christmas leave of their vessel had been delayed and shortened, and he knew that Gilroy, who was a conscientious man and hard worker of first-class character, would be anxious not to overstay his leave. The whole ship’s company deplored his loss.
Verdict; “Accidental death.”
H.M.S. Walpole was sold for scrap in 1945.
His father also Henry died in 1920.
Henry Gilroy is remembered in Gateshead on G39.103 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
