for 13 years, including through the difficult experiences of World War II when London's dockyards were badly damaged by the London Blitz. Two of his sons served in the war; one in the Royal Navy and the other in the Royal Canadian Navy. Both were decorated for bravery while fighting in the Battle of the Atlantic against the resurgent German submarine fleet. One was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross, while the other was Mentioned in Despatches. Retirement Retiring in 1951, Stuart retreated to his sisters' cottage in Charing, Kent, and spent his days reading, walking, observing nature and visiting the cinema, where he was reportedly notorious for "jeering embarrassingly loudly at falsely heroic, sentimental or emotional passages" and shouting "Mush!" at parts of movies he did not approve. He died aged 67 at the cottage on 8 February 1954 and was buried in local Charing Cemetery. For many years his gravestone was in a poor state of repair but it was later replaced with a standard white Commonwealth War Grave headstone. Following his death, 'Stuart Close' in Lee-on-Solent was named for him and his medals were collected and donated on permanent loan to the National Maritime Museum, where they are on display. Notes References Murphy, James. (2008). Liverpool VCs. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword Books. External links Charing War Memorial, Kent, transcribed by David Hughes and Neil Clark British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Companions of the Distinguished Service Order English people of Canadian descent Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) People educated at Liverpool College Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Royal Navy officers Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross Victoria Cross awardees from Liverpool 1886 births 1954 deaths Royal Navy officers of World War I British Merchant Navy officers People from Charing Burials in Kent Royal Naval Reserve personnel