James Jenner

A Deck Hand with H.M. Trawler Gabir, James died on 24th of May 1918 at the age of 39. 

James was born at Lowestoft on 12 November 1879, a son of James and Margaret Jenner. This is confirmed by his baptismal record, however his Royal Naval Reserve service record gives his date of birth as 11 October 1876. He was baptised at Christ Church, Lowestoft, on 20 January 1880, and his family lived at 1 Hungary Terrace (sic), The Beach, Lowestoft. In 1881 they lived at 1 Spurgeon Score. In 1901 his family lived at 14 Raglan Street. 

On 19 January 1903 James married Eleanor Mortimer at Saint Margaret’s Church. James was a fisherman living at 83 Oxford Road and Eleanor lived at Whapload Road. In 1911 their home was at 54 Milton Road, and James was the Third Hand on the trawler All’s Well, LT 751, at the Isles of Scilly. By 1915 they were living at 22 Police Station Road and later Eleanor lived at 46 Stevens Street.

James joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 25 October 1915. His service record does not list the vessel that he served on and just notes that he was under H.M.S. Halcyon II. His record does state that he was serving on the trawler Gabir when he died. 

On 24 May 1918 the Gabir was patrolling off Pakefield and struck a mine. James, and another man, were killed in the explosion and three seriously injured.