James Charles Rodwell

A Skipper on Sailing Trawler Trevone. James died on 29th January 1917 at the age of 44. 

James was born at Weybread, Suffolk, in 1874, a son of Charles and Elizabeth Rodwell. He was baptised at Saint Andrew's Church, Weybread, on 10 May 1874. In 1881 his family lived at 5 Oulton Road, Oulton, and by 1891 they were living at Gordon Terrace, Beccles Road, Carlton Colville, and John worked as a shepherd's boy. In 1901 they lived at Oulton Street and by 1911 Charles' mother had died and his father lived at 15 Marsh Road, Oulton Broad. 

On 25 December 1896 James married Emily Louisa Agus at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville. James was a fisherman and they both lived at Carlton Colville. In 1901 they lived at 5 Waveney Cottages, and by 1911 they were living at Blackheath Road, Lowestoft. 

In 1917 James was the Master of the sailing trawler Trevone. On 29 January the Trevone was captured by the German submarine U-55 around 30 miles north-west of Trevose Head.

The Benjidog Historical Resources Website has the following: 

James Rose, second hand, was on the deck of the British sailing trawler Trevone at half-past three in the afternoon of 30th January 1917 when a German submarine suddenly appeared on the surface and opened fire. Her second shot hit the peak halyards and the master and crew immediately took to their boat. They were ordered alongside the submarine and told to board her. In attempting to obey, the master and cook were both washed overboard. These two men could easily have been rescued but the Germans took not the slightest notice of them. The Master was seen hanging on to the submarine's side aft for over 10 minutes but finally disappeared. 

See: Merchant Navy Memorials Tower Hill (benjidog.co.uk)

His brothers Charles and John also died.