James Alfred Culham

A Leading Seaman with the Royal Naval Reserve, James died on 8th of September 1940 at the age of 40. 

James was born at Lowestoft on 11 September 1899, a son of James Alfred and Georgina Culham. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church on 15 March 1903 (the same day as his brother Walter) and his family lived at 65 Seago Street and this was still their address in 1911 and 1921. 

James joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 27 July 1915 and served on the trawler Christmas Daisy as a Deck Hand. On 15 May 1917 Austrian destroyers attacked the British drifters that made up the Otranto Barrage in the Adriatic. After the engagement James was reported to be missing. He was captured by the Austrians and held at a prisoner of war camp in Austria until the end of the war. he was discharged on 23 February 1919. 

On 7 July 1919 James married Alice Harriet Amelia Cook at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. James was a fisherman living at 55 Seago Street, and Alice lived at 22 Crown Street. 

James joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 15 April 1924. At the time he, and Alice, lived at 1 Farrows Yard, Factory Street. Later they lived at 83 Fir Lane.

In 1934-1936 James was employed fitting out fishing vessels. From 1936 he worked as a builder's labourer. 

In May 1939 James re-enrolled with the Royal Naval Reserve. In that year he was awarded the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service Medal. James was called out for service and was at H.M.S. Drake on 31 July 1939. He joined H.M.S. Ceres on 4 August 1939. He applied to join the Patrol Service but his application was not approved. 

James served on board the destroyer H.M.S. Ceres. In August 1940 H.M.S. was involved in evacuating British and allied troops from Berbera in Somaliland and taking them to safety in Aden. 

James contracted pneumonia and jaundice and was being treated at the European Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya, when he died just three days short of his 41st birthday.

James was known as James Albert, but some records show that he was also known as James Wilfred. 

(With thanks to Andy Pearce for some parts of the additional information)

James' brother Walter served in the Royal Navy and died in 1940.