A WARTIME submariner and one of the original 'Barton Boneheads’ who attended Barton School, Henry John Peach, has died at his home in Newport last Wednesday, aged 96.
Born in Barton Road, Newport, on February 8, 1921, he was the youngest of four children to Henry and Louisa Peach.
During the Second World War, Mr Peach, best known as John, lied about his age to join the Royal Navy and became a submariner and took part in many secret missions, hunting down enemy shipping.
Unfortunately, he suffered ear damage from enemy depth charges and remained partially deaf after the war.
After the war, he forged a career as a book-keeper at the British Hovercraft Corporation, Saunders Roe and Plessey, with the chief responsibility of arranging workers’ pay packets.
He married Mabel Hall at Holy Trinity Church, Cowes, in 1953. They were married for 60 years.
His wife died in 2011. The couple had eight children.
In his spare time, he played the piano at pubs in Newport and the organ at St Paul’s Church in the town.
In retirement, Mr Peach, of St Cross Court, Holyrood Street, Newport, enjoyed walking his dogs, listening to jazz music, reading Jack Higgins novels and cream teas.
Mr Peach’s funeral will be held at St Paul’s Church, Newport, at 1pm on Thursday, March 30.
After the service, Mr Peach’s casket, which will be draped with a flag of the Submariners Association, Gosport, will be taken by traditional horse and carriage from the church to Fairlee Cemetery, Newport, for interment.