Harry Selway was born in Hessle, Yorkshire on 3 March 1909, the son of William James Selway and Philadelphia Selway (née Long). He joined the Royal Navy as an Engine Room Artificer Apprentice on 3 December 1924. On completion of his apprenticeship, he was drafted to the aircraft carrier HMS COURAGEOUS on 23 September 1928 and this was followed by a draft to the battleship HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN on 18 January 1930.

On 11 October 1930 he was drafted to HMS DOLPHIN ‘for the Submarine Course’. Harry Selway then served in HMS L22, HMS H32, HMS L6 and HMS L54. He joined HMS OTWAY on 1 July 1934 to 31 May 1935. Harry Selway served in Submarine L26 from 1 July 1937 to 9 June 1939 and then in HMS TRIBUNE from 11 August 1939 to 27 September 1939. By this time Harry Selway had been advanced to Engine Room Artificer Second Class and, he was promoted to Acting Warrant Engineer on 1 October 1939. Following post-promotion courses, Harry Selway was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN ‘for Submarine Training‘ on 26 August 1940.

On completion of training, he was appointed to HMS SWORDFISH as the Engineer on 5 November 1940. Harry Selway died on 7 November 1940 when HMS SWORDFISH sank with all hands after striking a mine off the Isle of Wight.

Harry Selway was the husband of Sheila Evelyn Daisy Selway and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel No. 37, Column No. 2.