Cyril Candy

Cyril joined the Royal Navy in July 1940 and had been posted to the cruiser HMS Dunedin in September 1941 as a supply assistant.
HMS Dunedin was torpedoed by U-Boat U124 captained by Jochen Mohr. Dunedin had spotted U-124 and changed course to intercept but U-124 also changed course and let loose 3 torpedoes, 2 hit at a distance of 4000 yards. The ship sank in 17 minutes out of a crew of 500 250 men eded up in the sea on Carley floats. The last man seen to leave the ship was it's captain. U-124 surfaced for 10 mins then submerged and left the men to their fate. Over the next 3 days the men gradually died of wounds, heat and dehyration. They were in 7 rafts, one raft only had 1 gallon of water and one tin of sea biscuits. On the 27th of November after 3 days and 4 nights in open boats the American merchant ship, Nishmaha, found the survivors but only 72 were alive, with a further 5 dying later.

Cyril's older brother, George served as a fireman in Beeston and younger brother, Norman sreved in the army in the Middle East.
HMS Dunedin's ship cat, Minnie, also died in the encounter.

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 28/5/1942 Mansfield Sailor Persumed Dead.
Mr & Mrs T G Candy of 103 Forest Road, Mansfield have received official intimation that their second son Supply Assistant Cyril Candy who was serving with the R.N.
Serving on the British Cruiser, "Dunedin" which was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic in November 1941. He had been with the ship since the previous September, and had won the esteem of all his shipmates.
Like his two brothers, George and Norman he was of a studious mind and all three attended Mansfield Grammar School. After leaving Mansfield Grammar School, Cyril was employed for a time in a local newspaper office and afterwards in the offices of Sherwood Colliery and the Mansfield Education Office. Continuing his studies he was successful in passing the final examination of the Charted Institute of Secretaries at the first attempt and then took a post at Rochester as Assistant Director of Education.
He joined the Navy in July 1940. His eldest brother, Georgewho is a member of the A.F.S. at the outbreak of war is now serving as a full-time fireman at Beeston at which place he was a school teacher having taught at Oxclose Lane School and at Sutton in Ashfield. The youngest son, Norman is serving with the British Army in the Middle East.

Another Mansfield man, Signalman William Douglas Commons, was also on the Dunedin and died.
Cyril is listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial panel 57 col 2