264078 Slt. Basil Henry Foulds Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve RMS Lusitania from:Fowey, Cornwall (d.21st June 1944) Basil Foulds was my paternal grandfather who ran an antiques business in Fowey, Cornwall during the 1930s.
At the outbreak of WW2, he was 35 years old and he volunteered to join the RNVR. He served from 25th of July 1940 to his death from natural causes on 21th of June 1944. His service began as an engine man on HMS Poulmic.
He continued to serve as an engine man on a number of small vessels until his promotion to Temporary Paymaster Sub Lieutenant on HMS King Alfred in May 1942. He also served in land based establishments HMS Drake and HMS Cabbala until April 1944 when he was assigned to HMS Lusitania in the Azores for supply duties.
HMS Lusitania was a hulk ship renamed from HMS Chanticleer a RN Sloop which was struck by a Gnat from U Boat 515 in November 1943 east of the Azores. Sadly, like many servicemen in the RNVR he contracted poliomyelitis and was airlifted back to RAF Lynham. He died on active service in RD Hospital Yatesbury on 21st of June 1944 and was buried in his home town of Fowey. His grave is marked with a CWG headstone.
He was a grandfather I never knew and his death was a terrible blow to my father who was just 15 years old in 1944. A good father to me, he respected his father’s own war service by going to sea in 1947 as an apprentice in the RFA and eventually progressed to Master Mariner in the MN.
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