Lieutenant Commander Edward Arthur MINTER RNVR
HMS Drake, Royal Navy

Date of birth: 5th January 1896
Date of death: 14th January 1942

Died aged 46
Buried at St Mary's Church, Plympton
He was born at Chatham on the 5th of January 1896 the son of Staff Surgeon Edward Denman Minter RN, Naval Surgeon, and Jane Frances Mary (nee Jacob) of North Cottage, Sizewell in Suffolk.

He was educated at Eltham College and at the King’s School Canterbury from September 1910 to July 1914 where in 1913 and 1914 he was one of the Gym Pair.

Following the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Navy in September 1914 and was posted to the Royal Naval Training Establishment. He was appointed as a Midshipman in the Royal Navy on the 1st of May 1915 and was posted to the battleship HMS King Edward VII the same day. He left her on the 6th of January 1916 and was posted to the dreadnought HMS Neptune from the 5th of February 1916 to the 31st of August 1917. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on the 15th of March 1917 which was subject to his passing an exam which he did on the 14th of August 1917. He was posted to the sloop, HMS Eglantine on the 1st of September 1917. On the 23rd of February 1918 a report noted that he was: -

"Still lacking in experience as Executive Officer of ship. Has shown great zeal during period of time since Commander R.D.F. Forbes RN has been in command of ship. Requires constant instruction in duties but with experience he is gaining, should make a good officer."

He was promoted to Acting Lieutenant on the 15th of May 1918 and, left HMS Eglantine on the 3rd of August 1918. On the 14th of December 1918 he was sent on a course at Cambridge. On the 14th of January 1919 he was admitted to Plymouth Hospital suffering from a nasal obstruction but was released and passed as fit on the 24th of January. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 15th of March 1919.

He retired from the Navy to the reserve at his own request with the rank of Lieutenant on the 22nd of September 1920. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve on the 15th of March 1927.

He went to work for the Great Western Railway of Buenos Aires Ltd as an engineer in the electrical department. He was married to Margaret (nee Kretzer) on the 24th of December 1930 and had three children, John Ernest Francis, born in December 1931, Joan Margaret and Sebastian E. Denman, born on the 20th of June 1940. They returned from Argentina on the 9th of October 1931. The family lived at Stentaway House, Stentaway Road, Plymton St Mary in Devon.

In 1939 he was recalled to the Navy and given command of the destroyer depot ship HMS Sandhurst stationed at Dover on the 25th of September 1939. She was the supply and repair ship for the Dover Patrol. In October 1939 he paid a visit to the King's School. On the 5th of September 1940 he was posted to HMS Pembroke and was posted to the Kirkwall Naval Base on the 14th of September 1940. He returned to HMS Pembroke on the 19th of March 1941 and transferred to the shore establishment HMS Drake, based at Devonport, on the 12th of July 1941 for training duties

In January 1942 he was found to be suffering from lymphadenitis and was not considered fit for general Naval service. He died from gland trouble, following a bout of influenza.


 

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