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Early on 11 April 1917 a small boat was spotted drifting towards shore off St Ouen’s Bay. It contained the body of George Cawley. He was an Officer’s Steward, on a Q-ship, merchant ships that were disguised to lure German U-boats to surface.

His story of being alone, floating on the sea captured the locals’ imagination and he was given a public funeral, with full military honours.

But, there’s a mystery over his death because HMS Q36 was sunk seven months later off Gibraltar. So how did he get to Jersey in April?

Location: Kempt Towe, St Ouen’s Nay, Jersey JE3 2FN
Image shows the funeral procession of George Cawley and his CWGC headstone