Last crewman of HMS Seal laid to rest

THE last crew member of a submarine adopted by the village of Seal has died aged 91.

The story of Geoffrey Cole, from Oldham, was fondly retold at his funeral in Lancashire on Friday.

He joined the crew of HMS Seal in 1939, after deciding the job was paid better than that of a normal sailor.

His family said he had often spoken warmly of the people of Seal, who had adopted the mine-laying submarine when it was commissioned in 1938.

Disaster befell the crew when it was captured by the German Navy Kriegsmarine in the Second World War.

It had ventured into an area of the North Sea, known as the Kattegat, where a German minefield damaged the vessel.

A German seaplane took the captain, Rupert Lonsdale, and his crew prisoners of war, forcing them into captivity in a camp called Marlag in Germany.

Throughout this time they were supported by Seal villagers, who sent out parcels to the servicemen.

Mr Cole's daughter Gillian Froggatt said of her father: "He was very proud of being in the Navy and he talked about it a lot.

"He told stories about when they were prisoners and what they used to get up to as prisoners of war.

"My dad kept in touch with Captain Lonsdale, who was a wonderful man and remained in contact with all the crew.

"After the war the crew went and built a cricket pavilion in the village of Seal to thank the villagers, because they had helped the crew and sent them parcels."

In 1988, the cricket pavilion was rebuilt and a ceremony held in the village attended by Mr Cole and his surviving crewmates.

Mrs Froggatt said: "When they went back to the dedication in 1988 he stayed with one of the people from the village and he kept in touch with her."

After the war Mr Cole married in 1947 and worked first as a fireman, and then began a career in engineering.

Seal parish councillor Christopher Sutton-Mattocks said: "It was a very important part of Seal history and the crew maintained a connection with the crew for many years after the war.

"It was a relationship that was important to the people of Seal.

"We are sorry to hear that the last serving crew member has died and send our condolences to his family."