Edward MARSDEN-SMEDLEY was born in September 1923.  In 1924 he arrived at Southampton from Buenos Aires on SS Asturias with his parents John (Commander RN) and Agatha. 

He joined the Submarine Service in January 1943 and served in HMS UNIVERSAL (3rd Hand), HMS ULTOR (1st Lt), U-1023 (1st Lt), HMS TEREDO (1st Lt), HMS AENEAS (4th Hand).  He completed the Commanding Officers Qualifying Course in 1949 then served as Commanding Officer of HMS AMBUSH.  He was mentioned in despatches for his wartime service – see London Gazette 7 Nov 44.  

He died from self inflicted gunshot wounds on 23 February 1951.  At the coroner’s inquest it was found that he “took his life while the balance of his mind was disturbed” and some importance was attached to his financial situation, as he had a significant overdraft.

His effects were left to his wife, Marjorie Beatrix Marsden-Smedley (née Bennett) whom he had married in 1945 in Barrow-in-Furness.