My Great Uncle served on HMS Vala which was one of 29 'Q' Ships that served during the 1st World War. They were called 'Q' ships as they were based in the port of Queenstown (now called Cobh) in Ireland. They were armed merchant vessels sent out to attract the attention of the German U-boats that were preying on allied shipping; in essence they were there to be shot at. The idea was that a lone merchant ship would be a tempting target for a submarine, and that an unarmed ship would be unlikely to be attacked with a torpedo. Instead the submarine would surface and attempt to sink the ship with its cannon. When the sub surfaced the Q Ship would swing down its false sides and open fire with its concealed guns. On August 20th 1917 HMS Vala was hit by 2 torpedoes 120 miles SW of the Isles of Scilly. There were no survivors. Lawrence served as an Able Seaman and was 20 years old.

Matthew Rudd