James Ernest Johnson

A Trimmer with H.M. Trawler Whooper, James died on 30th of June 1916 at the age of 39. 

James was born at Macclesfield, Cheshire, on 14 January 1877, a son of James E. and Sarah Ann Johnston. 

In 1881 his family lived at 57 Saint George's Street, Sutton, Macclesfield. James attended Saint George's School, Macclesfield. By 1891 they were living at 1 Court 2, Higginbotham Road, Macclesfield, and James was a silk winder. 

Note that in many official records James used his middle name Ernest, particularly the records of his military and naval service.  

James  served in the Cheshire Militia and the Militia Reserve before enlisting in the regular battalions of the Cheshire Regiment at Chester on 18 July 1896, service number 5270. He had been working as a pork butcher at the time he enlisted. He joined the 2nd Battalion on 24 November 1896. James was appointed Lance Corporal on 20 October 1897 and promoted to Corporal on 1 July 1899. He was appointed unpaid Lance Sergeant on 2 August 1899 and paid Lance Sergeant on 5 October 1899. Despite his great promise as a solider James was tried by Court Martial and reduced to Private. He rebuilt his career and by 1 April 1904 had reached the rank of Sergeant. Another misdemeanour meant that he was again tried and was discharged on 27 May 1904. James had served in the Boer War between 7 January 1900 and 26 October 1902. (Service papers in WO 97). 

Later he worked on Grimsby based trawlers. (See Macclesfield Times 21 July 1916 page 5).

James joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 7 August 1914 and served on the trawler Whooper. He died when the trawler was blown up by a mine off Lowestoft. 

James married Teresa Adelaide Tubby at Lowestoft in 1915 and she lived at 28 Haward Street, Lowestoft.

On Saint Margaret's War Memorial (Roll of Honour has initial E)