Ronald George Randall Daynes

This story is shared with the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Additional information from Mark Daynes, grandson of Ronald Daynes. Photo source: Gregory Greer, FindaGrave.com

Ronald George Randall Daynes was born on the 11 March 1903 in the Norwich registration district, the son of Edwin John & Gertrude Eliza Daynes (née Mann), who had married in the March quarter of 1892 in the same registration district.

We see the young couple on the 1911 census, living at 29, Rupert Street, Heigham, Norwich, Norfolk with their five children. Head of the household, Edwin John Daynes, 31, was a Hairdresser and had been born in Thorpe St. Andrew, Norfolk. Gertrude Eliza Daynes, 38 had been born in Norwich, Norfolk, as had all the children. Gertrude Elsie Daynes, 18, was a Chocolate Moulder, as was Edwin John Daynes 16. Ethel Isabel Daynes 13, Blanche Edith Ivy Daynes, 11 were at school and Ronald George Randall Daynes, 8, made up the family.

The 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, shows the family were still living at 29, Rupert Street with Edwin John Daynes, now aged 51 years. He was still a Hairdresser on his own account at No. 29, Rupert Street. Gertrude Eliza Daynes, was doing Home Duties. Edwin John Daynes (Jnr.) 26 years and 9 months old and single, was an Engineer’s Electrical Welder for Lawrence & Scott Ltd., Engineers, Gothic Works, Hardy Road, Norwich. Blanche Daynes was a Tailor’s Finisher at Harmer & Sons, Wholesale Clothiers, St. Andrews, Norwich.

That same census in 1921 shows Ethel Daynes living at her married sister Gertrude’s home at 134, York Street, Norwich, Norfolk, England. Her husband, Horace Graver worked as a Carpenter for Mr. Hindley, Builder, Mile End Road, Norwich. Gertrude was doing Household Duties and Ethel Daynes, was a Boot Worker (Socker) at Sexton & Everard, St. Mary’s Works, Oak Street, Norwich.

We also find, on that census, young Ronald George Randall Daynes, age 18 years and an Ordinary Seaman on the HMS Benbow in Constantinople. His service in the Royal Navy started as a Boy II on the 5th of July 1918 on Ganges II. He signed on the 11th of March 1921 for 12 years and then on the 21st of March 1919, he became Boy I, working his way to Ordinary Seaman by 1921, acting Leading Seaman in 1936 and acting Petty Officer in 1940.  In October 1931, two years before he completed his initial 12 years service, he volunteered to re-engage for an additional 10 years to complete the 22 years required to qualify for a long-service pension. His service record tells us he was 5 feet 2 inches, brown hair & eyes with a fresh complexion and he had an operation scar on his left arm which extended from the middle of his forearm up to the armpit and and the tip of his right little finger had been amputated.

He served on a number of other ships and shore bases. At the outbreak of WW2 he was serving on HMS Ivanhoe which was involved in the Dunkirk evacuations and he also served on HMS Boadicea, HMS Hecla and HMS Orlando before returning to HMS Boadicea.

Ronald Daynes married Mary Roberts in the June quarter of 1940 in the Grimsby registration district. They had a son, Malcolm R. Daynes, who was born in the same registration district in the March quarter of 1941. Malcolm has a vague memory of meeting his father once as a kid that's it unfortunately.

Ronald Daynes was serving on HMS Bodicea during the Battle of Normandy. HMS Boadicea was one of more than five thousand ships and landing craft that crossed the Channel on 5-6 June 1944. HMS Boadicea acted as escort for the convoys of Landing Craft Tanks (LCT) involved in the initial landings on D-Day. In the days following they acted as escort for the follow-up convoys. In the early hours of 13 June 1944, HMS Boadicea was attacked by either a German Dornier Do217 or a Junkers Ju88 aircraft whilst escorting supply convoy EBC-8 from Milford Haven to the Normandy beaches. She was hit in the magazine which exploded and HMS Boadicea sank very rapidly. There were only 12 survivors from a total complement of 182.

Ronald is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial to the Missing and the wreck of HMS Bodicea is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, Ronald Daynes' family do not have a photo of Ronald. If you are aware of one we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.