James Edward Long

A Quartermaster with H.M.H.S. Glenart Castle (Southampton), James died on 26th of February 1918 at the age of 43. 

James was born at Lowestoft in 1874, a son of George and Emma Long. In 1881 his family lived at 42 Tonning Street, Lowestoft. By 1891 they were living at 3 Flensburgh Street, and this was still their home in 1901. 

James became a merchant seaman, possible as early as 1888. In 1895-1899 he was an Able Seaman on the yacht Myrtle, based at Cowes, Isle of Wight. In 1899 he worked as an Able Seaman on the White Lady, also at Cowes, before returning to the Myrtle. 

James married Florence Grace Ayliffe in 1908: this was registered in the Mutford district. In 1911 their home was at 224 Denmark Road. Later Florence  lived at Saint Michaels Infant School House, Saint Albans.

In 1918 James was a quartermaster serving on the Hospital Ship Glenart Castle. On 25 February 1918 the ship left Newport, South Wales, and sailed for Brest, France, to collect patients. Eye-witnesses stated that the ship was fully lit and marked as a hospital ship, nonetheless the ship was sunk by a torpedo fired by German submarine U-56. The blast destroyed many of the lifeboats. There were around 180 people on board the ship, both ship's crew, including James, and medical personnel. Only 29 survived. 

After the war the British detained the U Boat's captain and wanted him to be tried for war crimes, but according to convention they were not allowed to hold a detainee during the Armistice, hence he was released without trial.