Harry Elliott Jennings

Captain Harry Elliott Jennings - SAVANNAH - Captain Harry E. Jennings, 90, died Saturday, April 4. He was born September 9, 1918, in Liverpool, England in the waning days of World War I. He went to sea at the age of 17 in 1935 and served his country faithfully during World War II. In 1942, while on assignment in the Caribbean, torpedoes hit his ship. The captain of the ship was killed and the 2nd mate severely injured, so it fell to Harry to get the rest of the crew to safety. After three days in a lifeboat, the Vichy French took the men as Prisoners of War. He spent 6 months in a POW camp, before being liberated by a trade that saw 50 British sailors traded for 250 Frenchman. Harry called it a "fair trade!" For his bravery, he received a commendation from King George VI, and later a commendation from Winston Churchill. After the war, he stayed at sea and eventually became a ship's Captain for the Furness Cruise Line, traveling from New York to Bermuda. He was the captain of the Queen of Bermuda when he met his wife, Bette. They were married in 1954. He came ashore after his son, Skip, was born and worked in New York for 15 years as a marine surveyor. He became an American citizen in1958. The Jennings moved to Savannah in 1970, where Harry would become an important and respected member of Savannah's maritime community. Harry was well-known as the Savannah Town Crier and served numerous organizations, including the English Speaking Union and the Navy League. He was senior warden at St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church, and worked faithfully in the Diocese of Georgia. Even as he approached 80, he was never as happy as he was when he was climbing up and down a ship. Captain Jennings is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bette; a son and daughter-in-law, Richard (Skip) and Stacy; two granddaughters, Margaret Nolan and Alexandra Price; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church conducted by The Reverend William M. Brock. Burial will be private. Remembrances to St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church - 3101 Waters Avenue, Savannah, Georgia 31404. The family would like to thank the resident assistants at Habersham House for their kind and generous care for Harry over the past 18 months, and the staff at Hospice House for their care in Harry's last days. Savannah Morning News April 8, 2009 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries .