Able Seaman Francis Dinan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, born 5th February 1893, Swansea, Wales, was the eldest child of Francis Augustus and Mary Catherine Dinan (née Molett). His father was a master mariner and both of his parents were natives of Jersey. He had three siblings, Raymond, Beatrice and Rosalie. His parents married in Grouville, Jersey, 27th May 1886.

Francis, more widely known by the name of Eric, was a methodist preacher and Sunday School teacher at Oxford St United Methodist church, Swansea and assistant secretary of the Y.M.C.A.

He joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 9th of November 1915  as Ordinary Seaman, Ordinary Signalman and joined the crew of the Laurentic on the 15th of October 1916.

“A special memorial service for Mr. Eric Dinan, who was on board the Laurentic, and is reported missing, will be conducted by the Rev. F. Sparrow on Sunday evening in the Oxford St United Methodist church. Eric, by which familiar name he was widely known, was a life-long member of the church, and rendered great and splendid service as local preacher and Sunday School teacher, and as secretary of the C.E. and Band of Hope. As one of the secretaries of the Y.M.C.A he was well known, and many of the organisations of the town have been helped by his service. He joined the Navy over a year ago, and was home for several days in December, and one of his last acts was to preach when the pastor was home on rest”.

Cumbrian Daily Leader Feb 3rd 1917

Sources
British Newspaper Archive
The National Archives of the UK
Commonwealth War Graves Commission http://www.cwgc.org