James Ogilvie

A Second Engineer with Steam Trawler Derwent (Boston), James died on 26th of January 1920 at the age of 25. 

James was born at Ellon, Aberdeenshire, on 15 October 1894, a son of William S. and Jeanie Ogilvie. In 1901 his family lived at 17 Harbour Street, Cruden, Aberdeenshire. By 1914 they were living at 8 Strachans Lane, Aberdeen. 

On 21 May 1918 James married Violet Elizabeth Daisy Church, formerly Prettyman, the widow of Harry Church who had died in the loss of H.M.S. Vanguard in 1917. Their marriage was registered in the Mutford district. In 1918 their home was at 55 Seago Street. Later they lived with Violet’s family at 9 Epsom Terrace, Kirkley Run. Subsequently Violet lived at 22 Carmelite Street, Aberdeen, then 75 Exeter Street, Plymouth, and then at 12 Waterloo Yard, Stonehouse, Plymouth. In 1929 she married William Heggie.  

On 25 August 1914 James attested for the Army at Perth. He had been working as a labourer. He joined the Black Watch, service number 3277. He was posted to the 8th Battalion, but was discharged on 16 September 1914, having been found to be medically unfit for further service. 

James joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 18 January 1915 as a Trimmer, service number 1905/TS. He served on the trawler Nellie Reid until 1 February 1917 when he joined the trawler Lord Robert. From 17 February 1917 he was sentenced to eleven days in the cells with the loss of 28 days leave and 15 days pay: the reason is not stated on his service record. He joined the Princess Victoria on 8 March 1917 and on 24 July 1917 he was serving on the Ben Fore when he slipped and broke a finger. On 13 August 1917 he was sentenced to ten days in the cells: the reason is not stated on his service record. He then served at H.M.S. Victory until 10 September 1917 when joined the Aurea. On 29 October 1918 he was advanced to Engineman. From 2 January 1919 he served on the Pavlova and, on 13 March 1919, he joined H.M.S. Boadicea II. James then spent 42 days in Mountjoy Prison, with hard labour, before being discharged and demobilized on 16 May 1919.      

In 1920 James worked on the Grimsby registered trawler Derwent, GY 525. The trawler was reported missing on 26 January 1920 and is thought to have struck a mine. The vessel was lost with all ten crew.