Gilbert Edgar Morley
Born in Widecombe on Saturday 19th February 1916.
Father: Walter Samuel Morley. Mother Annie (Queenie) Palmer.
Gilbert had 2 brothers Robert Grenville b 1921 and Clifford John b 1927.
Gilbert attended Widecombe School from 11th April 1921 until 1st June 1927.
In September 1939 he married Mona Burton in Hull. On 20th October 1942 a son, Gilbert, was born to the couple.
Gilbert Edgar was serving in the RNVR in Scotland, so it is unlikely he met his son.
Gilbert had followed his father’s example and enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and trained, to be a submariner. Gilbert was posted to serve on HMS Unbeaten.
On 23rd October 1942 HMS Unbeaten left Holy Loch in Scotland for a special operation (to land an intelligence agent near Vigo in Spain). After successfully completing this mission she was ordered to continue “anti-shipping” patrols in the Bay of Biscay. On 8th November. HMS Unbeaten was moving north to a rendezvous at Bishop’s rock when, passing through a restricted bombing zone she was attacked and sunk by a Wellington Bomber of 172 Squadron Coastal Command flying out of RAF Chivenor.
The submarine sank with all 36-crew lost.
Gilbert Edgar Morley was killed in this tragedy on Wednesday 11th November 1942
He is commemorated on: The Naval Memorial in Chatham, Naval Memorial at Holy Loch, in Newton Abbot Cemetery alongside his father Walter, and in St Pancras Church, Widecombe.
Watch the Video of the possible sinking of HMS Unbeaten by Coastal Command
Gilbert’s Father Walter also Died in World War Two
Gilbert’s father Walter also served in the Royal Navy and died in World War Two
You can view Walter’s entry here
Gilbert Morley in Pictures
Click on an image for a larger view
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments are shown alongside each photograph above.