Harry Dodd was born in 1909 (Flintshire (Mold) FLNT/47/15) the son of Richard & Gertrude J. Dodd (nee Bennett) who married in a Civil Ceremony in Chester 1906 (Cheshire West ROC/50/158).
Harry age 2, is seen for the first time on the 1911 census where he was the 2nd son and child of Richard & Gertrude, his siblings were Albert, 4, and sister Elsie, 1. Richard, 30, was head of the household, a Shunter for the Great Central Railway, Working at Home and born in Northop. His wife Gertrude, 25 and the children had all been born in Connah’s Quay, Flintshire. Richard and Gertrude tell us that they had been married for 5 years and 3 children had been born to them and were still living.
Sadly I cannot find Harry on any documents after that till he is involved in WW2, but his parents and some siblings are seen on the 1939 Register. However, I don’t know why Richard and Gertrude are listed no’s 8 & 9 in the household and the first record is redacted. Any help would be appreciated.
1939 Register.
DODD FAMILY
Household (9 People)
22 Bryn Road , Connah’s Quay U.D., Flintshire, Wales
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
Mary E Lamb* (Dodd) 20 Feb 1920 Female Spinner Assistant Silk Works Single 82 2
Agnes M Challinor** (Dodd) 09 May 1922 Female Spinner Assistant Silk Works Single 82 3
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
Joyce Dodd 02 Feb 1926 Female At School Single 82 5
Derek Dodd 22 Aug 1928 Male At School Single 82 6
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
Gertrude J Dodd 01 Mar 1888 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 82 8
Richard Dodd 28 Nov 1880 Male Railway Shunter Married 82 9
Harry’s siblings – *Mary J. Dodd married Ralph Lamb in St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay in 1941 and ** Agnes M Dodd married Kenneth Challinor in the Golftyn Presbyterian Church, Connah’s Quay in 1948
I do not know when Harry met Catherine Edwards but although I can find Catherine living with her family on the 1939 Register, at 3, Salisbury Street , Flint, I cannot find Harry, but as that was taken on the 29th September 1939, he may have been already in the Royal Naval Reserve, in any case, Harry married Catherine on the 8th April 1939 at St. Mary’s Church, Flint and Harry was killed on the 30th October the same year, however, his death was recorded as the 5th November 1939 as that was the date the boat was overdue, and probably at that time, they had no idea what had happened to it.. Sadly Catherine and Harry were not to have any normal married life
Please click on the link to read the story of Kenneth Reddin who was also lost on the Northern Rover, they probably were mates or knew each other in Connah’s Quay, as they both born there.
I was able to find information about what happened to Harry and the Northern Rover thanks to http://www.naval-history.net/WW2BritishLossesbyDate1.htm
November 1939
November 5 – Trawler NORTHERN ROVER (R, 655t, 1936), overdue at Kirkwall, Orkneys by this date and also thanks to https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/13531.html the story of Northern Rover and it’s crew can be told, it was Commissioned Sep 1939 and Lost 30 Oct 1939, Loss position 59° 57’N, 4° 24’W.
Displacement: 655 tons.
Torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-59 about 100 miles west of Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands in position 59.57’N, 04.24’W on 30 October 1939. ). It’s Commmander from 27th September 1939 – 30th October 1939 was Lt. (retired) Martin Hugh Macpherson, RN.
Ships hit by U-boats – https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/86.html
Fate Sunk by U-59 (Harald Jürst)
Position 59° 57’N, 4° 24’W – Grid AN 1313
Complement 27 (27 dead – no survivors)
Convoy
Route Kirkwall – patrol area – Kirkwall
Cargo
History – Completed in October 1936 as steam trawler Northern Rover (LO 164) for Mac Line Ltd (Lever Brothers Ltd), London. 1937 transferred to Northern Trawlers Ltd, London. In August 1939 requisitioned by the Admiralty and used as armed boarding vessel, based in Kirkwall for Contraband Duties.
Notes on event
At 23.35 hours on 30 Oct 1939, HMS Northern Rover (4.58) (Lt M.H. Macpherson, RN) was hit by one torpedo from U-59 and sank about 100 miles west of Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands. The commander, three officers and 23 ratings were lost.
Crew list of Ships hit by U-boats – https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/person/16069.html
Harry Dodd RNR (P/X 9848 B). British. Born 1909, Died 30 Oct 1939, (30), Roster information listed for Harry Dodd:-
Ship Type Rank / role Attacked on Boat
HMS Northern Rover (4.58) A/S trawler Seaman 30 Oct 1939 (+) U-59
Personal information
Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Dodd; husband of Catherine Dodd, of Flint.
List of all U-boats – U-59 Type IIC https://uboat.net/boats/u59.htm
Ordered 17 Jun 1937
Laid down 5 Oct 1937 Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 258)
Launched 12 Oct 1938
Commissioned 4 Mar 1939 Oblt. Harald Jürst
Commanders
4 Mar 1939 – 17 Jul 1940 Kptlt. Harald Jürst
Career – 13 patrols
Successes -17 ships sunk, total tonnage 34,130 GRT
2 auxiliary warships sunk, total tonnage 864 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 8,009 GRT
1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 4,943 GRT
Fate – Scuttled on 3 May 1945 in the Kiel Arsenal after being decommissioned in April 1945. Wreck broken up in 1945.
History on Kptlt. Harald Jürst – https://uboat.net/men/commanders/565.html
Lancashire Evening Post dated 11th November 1939 printed an announcement of the loss of the Northern Rover and it’s Crew.
Any help to tell Harry’s Story would be gratefully received.