Born in New Brunswick of Irish descent, Charles Finnegan came back to the UK the moment he found out war had ben declared. Sadly, from his perspective, he could not join the army because of a limp but he was a sailor and joined a secret unit operating around the top of Scotland. That unit sought out submarines, provide food to outlying islands and collected intelligence.
His wife lived in Barry, which is why, when he died after saving a colleague who was drowning, he was buried in Barry.
Honoured and awarded medals this proud Canadian Irish man served the nation he considered to be his cultural home.