James William Pye

A Stoker with H.M.S. Pembroke, James died on 4th of September 1917 at the age of 25.

James was born at Lowestoft on 14 August 1892, a son of James John and Florence Edith Pye. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 31 August 1892 and his family lived at East Street. By 1901 his family were living at 1 Whapload Road. By 1911 the family home was 76 Whapload Road, and in the 1920s at 20 Chapel Street.

James was living ‘near Wilde’s Score’ when he joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 8 February 1912. In 1912 he worked on the trawler Hopeful, LT 975, and then LT 986; in April 1913 with the trawler Comrades, LT 990; in July 1913 trawler LT 423; and in July 1914 the trawler Nancy Runnan.

James was called out for service on 18 August 1914. He served with H.M.S. Shannon until 3 July 1917 he was drafted to H.M.S. Pembroke.

In September 1917 the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham was full of ratings and overflow accommodation had to be found at the Drill Hall. On 3 September 1917 James was at Chatham Barracks. That night five German Gotha bombers made a raid on the Medway towns, including Chatham. The Drill Hall took a direct hit and over 130 men were killed or wounded. James was wounded and taken to the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, where he died of wounds on 4 September. Ninety-eight of the men, including James, were buried at Gillingham, and others were buried closer to their homes.  

James gave his next-of-kin as his friend Violet Randall of Yarmouth Road, Heckingham. 

James’ brother, Herbert, served with the Royal Norfolk Regiment and died in 1940.