James Sergeant

A Deck Hand, James died on 21st May 1947 at the age of 67.

James was born at Chedgrave on 9th March 1880, a son of Daniel and Mary Sergeant. In 1881 his family lived at The Street, Chedgrave. By 1901 his family were living at The Pits, Chedgrave, and James worked as an agricultural labourer. 

In 1903 James married Kate Mary Vann and by 1911 they were living at 3a Carlton Road, Pakefield. It seems that James became a fisherman before 1911. 

In 1917 James and Kate were living at Bolton Street, Brixham. He joined the Royal Naval Reserve, as a Deck Hand, on 7th August 1917, service number 17572 D.A. James served on the requisitioned trawlers Zaria and Flowers O'Noray and was discharged on 28th April 1919 and he, and Kate, returned to Lowestoft. 

By 1927 James and Kate were living at Highbank, London Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft. 

In 1947 James was a Deck Hand on the Trawler Bucentaur. On 21st May 1947 the Bucentaur was involved with a collision with the American merchant/troopship Wilson Victory, sailing from Bremerhaven (for details see Wood v. United States, 125 F. Supp. 42 (S.D.N.Y. 1954) :: Justia ).

The Bucentaur was lost with all hands.