Sir James Domville

A Lieutenant with the Royal Navy (Retired List), Sir James died on 13th of September 1919 at the age of 29. 

James was born at Edinburgh on 10 December 1889, a son of Rear Admiral Sir William Cecil H. and Lady Anne Josephine Moselle Domville. Because of his hereditary title he was known as Sir James Domville. In 1891 James was staying at his uncle’s home, Linden Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland. In 1901 James lived with his family at The Chantry, Sproughton, near Ipswich.     

James succeeded as the 5th Baronet Domville of Saint Albans upon the death of his father in 1904. On 11 April 1912 James married Kathleen Agatha Charlesworth. Their home was at Gunton Hall, Lowestoft.

James joined the training ship H.M.S. Britannia on 15 September 1904 and was commissioned as a Midshipman on 15 January 1906. He then joined H.M.S. King Edward VII until 15 February 1907 when he returned to H.M.S. Britannia. He served with H.M.S. New Zealand from 28 January 1908. Next, he joined H.M.S. Victory and was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant on 30 April 1909. He served with H.M.S. Leda from 1 March 1910 and joined H.M.S. Warrior on 10 May 1911. James was promoted to Lieutenant on 31 December 1911 and joined H.M.S. Bacchante in the Mediterranean Fleet. His personal reports were not always complimentary. James resigned his commission on 19 June 1912 and was placed on the emergency list, but resigned from the list on 14 April 1914, and he returned to the list on 8 August 1914 which meant that he could be called out for service with the navy.

On 9 August 1914 James was posted to H.M.S. Halcyon for minesweeping duties at Lowestoft. He joined H.M.S. Kaphreda on 28 October 1914. A note on his service record has February 1915 ‘an expression of Their Lordship’s appreciation for his action in taking to pieces a German mine washed ashore at Torry Island’. Again, in February 1915, he received ‘an expression of Their Lordship’s satisfaction for action in taking apart, at great personal risk, a German mine washed ashore at Portrush.’ On 1 April 1915 he joined H.M.S. Kingfisher for Yarmouth Base and his report states: 

Report of patrol by trawlers April 1915. Board considered the work well done, his attack on enemy patrols well executed and the way in which he handled his small force was commendable.

For this action, during which James was on board the trawler Barbados, he was awarded the vellum certificate of commendation with the following citation:

He remained at the wheel when the skipper was wounded, personally working the helm, and generally handled his ship in a seamanlike manner, under heavy fire to avoid being torpedoed. He also took effective measures to call the attention of Leonidas in order to convey to her the information which led to the subsequent destruction of the enemy vessels.

This particular action involved the trawlers Barbados, Columbia, Minra, Chirsit and two German torpedo boats. 

James was given command of the Paddle Minesweeper H.M.S. Balmoral on 29 October 1915 and on 3 February 1916 he joined H.M.S. Halcyon for minesweeping duties at Lowestoft. On 3 Jun 1916 he took command of the P-Class patrol boat P.19. 

On 27 February 1917 James became a Royal Navy liaison officer and he was sent to Marseilles and then to Port Said where he contracted enteric fever. James commanded H.M.S. Grasshopper from 10 August 1918 to 16 November 1918, when h, he was given command of H.M.S. Grasshopper. In November 1918 James’ medical adviser informed the navy that James was totally unfit for any service and that James awaited intimation from Their Lordship’s as to whether they wanted him to resign his commission. The matter was not fully concluded when on 13 September 1919 James was at the United Services Club, London, and shot-himself. He was taken to Charing Cross Hospital where he died.  

Sir James' brother-in-law was Frederic Charlesworth who served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and died in 1918. 

See: Microsoft Word - xp DOMVILLE Sir James Henry (merseamuseum.org.uk)

————————

John, BARBADOS / Domville - also on PEKIN entry ;

DOMVILLE James H Sir Bt. Lt. RN 85U012

Barbados Captain Ellison N/E N/E

Action Trawlers Barbados, Columbia, Miura, Chirsit &2 Ger T.B's

01.05.15 Vellum letter

He remained at the wheel when the skipper was wounded, personally working the helm, and generally handled his ship in a seamanlike manner, under heavy fire to avoid being torpedoed. He also took effective measures to call the attention of Leonidas in order to convey to her the information which led to the subsequent destruction of the enemy vessels.

"This is not the first occasion of Sir J. Domville behaving with cool gallantry under fire, he is evidently a most valuable officer." - 4th Sea Lord - "Concur" - 1st Sea Lord.

He received Their Lordships' commendation on three occasions during the first 4 months of 1915. CREDIT:GreatWarForum