Glenn Craik was born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear on 25 August 1960 and he was the son of Mr and Mrs Edna Craik (née Mulligan). He joined the Royal Navy at the age of sixteen soon after leaving school and trained as a Cook. He then trained and qualified as a submariner and his first submarine draft was to HMS ONSLAUGHT.

He was taken ill and died soon after ONSLAUGHT arrived in Amsterdam for a visit on 10 May 1980. His body was returned to his hometown and he is commemorated at the Sunderland Crematorium.

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Newcastle Journal – Thursday 15 May 1980 – Young Sailor’s Shock Death

A young Wearside sailor has died on his first submarine voyage. Glenn Craik, a nineteen year old cook aboard HMS ONSLAUGHT became ill soon after the vessel berthed in Amsterdam. He was taken to hospital but died soon afterwards. The cause was found to be a cerebral haemorrhage.

His mother, Mrs Edna Craik, last night talked of the tragedy as relatives comforted her in her home at Kennet Square, Downhill, Sunderland. “It is particularly hard to accept because it happened so quickly” she said. “He had been perfectly fit all right before suddenly being taken ill – before this he had hardly a day’s sickness in his life.”

Glenn had been in the Navy since leaving school more than three years ago and this was his first overseas trip since joining the submarine a few months back.

Mrs Craik who has an elder son and a daughter said arrangements were being made for Glenn’s body to be flown back to the Northeast.