2nd Engineer, K17826, James Gill Wright (45) – Survived the War

H.M.S. Ulleswater,  Royal Navy

James Gill Wright photographed in Valletta, Malta – ©

Synopsis of life and Military Service

James Gill Wright was born in Edinburgh on 26 July 1888 to James Archibald Wright and Margaret Gill or Wright. In the 1891 Census the family is shown as residing at Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh, on the outskirts of the city centre. Although little is known of his schooling, his father in the 1901 Census is shown as being a mason while residing at Bamburgh, Northumberland along with his family. Prior to enlisting in the Royal Navy on 21 January 1908, aged 19 James is shown as being a Stonemason.

Both his parents died in 1907 and his home base afterwards was with his sister, Agnes and her three children at 2 Gibson Terrace, Edinburgh.

On enlisting in the Royal Navy at Chatham in 1908 he was given the service number SS106548 and was described as follows:-

  • Height: 5’5″.
  • Chest: 37″.
  • Eyes: Brown.
  • Hair: Dark Brown.
  • Complexion: Fresh.
  • Marks: Tattooed anchor and bracelet left wrist, heart on back of left hand. Scar on cheek.

During his 12 year period of engagement he served on the following ships:

  • H.M.S. Acheron from 21 January 1908 to 23 June 1908.
  • H.M.S. Vindictive from 24 June 1908 to 20 February 1909.
  • H.M.S. Shannon from 21 February 1909 to 4 March 1912.
  • H.M.S. Pembroke II from 5 March 1912 to 19 May 1912.
  • H.M.S. Hermes from 20 May 1912 to 14 October 1912.
  • H.M.S. Bonaventure from 15 October 1912 to 15 January 1913.

On 16 January 1913 he was then given the service number of K17826.

  • H.M.S. Bonaventure from 16 January 1913 to 26 May 1914.
  • H.M.S. Pembroke from 29 May 1914 to 15 July 1914.
  • H.M.S. Lennox from 16 July 1914 to 5 April 1917.
  • H.M.S. Sharpshooter from 6 April 1917 to 3 October 1917.
  • H.M.S. Ulleswater from 4 October 1917 to 16 August 1918.

On 23 April 1918 while serving on the Ulleswater, he may have been involved in the ‘Zeebrugge Raid’ which took place on that date, when the allies attempted to block the harbour entrance to prevent use by the German navy including the base for U-boats. HMS Ulleswater was used as an Outer Patrol vessel in this operation.

On 15 August 1918 he may also have been aboard HMS Ulleswater when it was sunk in the North Sea by a German Submarine while it was escorting a small convoy from the Netherlands to England. This resulted in the death of five of the ships crew.

A Destroyer Torpedoed. (HMS Ullswater) (Art.IWM ART 1351) image: The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Ullswater in the process of sinking, having been torpedoed amidships. The destroyer is shown port side on and has virtually been cut in half by the torpedo. In the foreground survivors are sitting in a rubber life-ring and other sailors are in the water. Further shipping is visible in the background. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/21387
  • H.M.S. Pembroke II from 17 August 1918 to 25 September 1918.
  • H.M.S. Swallow (Dido) from 26 September 1918 to 16 February 1919.
  • H.M.S. Blenheim from 17 February 1919 to 13 March 1920.
  • H.M.S. Pembroke II for various dates between 14 March 1920 to 4 June 1921.

After he was demobilised on 4 June 1921 he returned to Edinburgh and went on to work on various fishing trawlers based at Granton Harbour, Edinburgh.

After his sister, Agnes, passed away in 1923, James kept the same address until his death in 1934. He never married.

On 26 February 1934, tragically while serving aboard the ‘River Tay‘, he was washed overboard in rough seas about 120 miles out from Buchan Ness on the north east of Scotland. He was 45 year old.

The Scotsman Newspaper

The following is an extract from the above publication dated 1 March 1934:-

EDINBURGH MAN DROWNED AT SEA

Washed Overboard from Trawler

When the Granton trawler River Tay arrived in harbour yesterday morning it was reported that the second engineer of the vessel, James Wright, 2 Gibson Terrace, Edinburgh, was washed overboard and drowned when the trawler was about 120 miles out from Buchan Ness in a heavy sea.

Wright met his death when he was attempting to close a grating on top of the casing to prevent the water entering the stokehold. He was struck by a big sea and washed overboard. Other members of the crew, who saw the accident, were standing waist-deep in water at the time and could make no effort to prevent Wright being carried overboard. As soon as the ship had cleared herself she was turned, and the captain managed to get within a short distance of Wright. He was apparently unconscious, and was unable to grasp a line which was thrown to him.

The vessel was again brought close alongside him and the crew managed to get a boat-hook fastened into his clothing, but a sudden lurch of the ship caused the drowning man’s oilskins to rip. He disappeared, and although the trawler cruised round the spot for two hours in the heavy seas the crew were unable to find the body. Wright, who was unmarried, was about 45 years of age.

Family

James Gill Wright was born on 26 July 1888 in Edinburgh

His family is shown as follows :-

  • Father: James Archibald Wright, (Stone Mason) born c.1856 at St Mungo, Dumfries.
  • Mother: Margaret Gill or Wright, born c.1854 at Elgin.
  • Step-sister: Margaret, born c.1878 at Edinburgh.
  • Sister: Agnes, born c.1883 at Edinburgh.
  • Brother: James G., born c.1888 @Edinburgh.
  • Sister: Annie Wilson, born c.1889 at Edinburgh.
  • Brother: William John, born c.1892 at Westmorland.
  • Sister: Janet Millar, born c.1893 at Edinburgh.
  • Brother: Joseph, born c.1893 at Edinburgh.
  • Sister: Susan Graham Laidlaw, born c.1898 at Bamburgh.

Addresses

The following addresses have been ascertained for James Gill Wright:-

  • 1891: 5 Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh, Lothian.
  • 1901: 13 Armstrong Cottages, Bamburgh, Northumberland.
  • 1921: 2 Gibson Terrace, Edinburgh, Lothian.
  • 1934: 2 Gibson Terrace, Edinburgh, Lothian.

Medals

James Wright was awarded the 1914-15 Star,  Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War.

Memorials

As James Wright survived the war, there is no trace of him currently mentioned on any war memorial.

Remarks

There is some mention in some of the documentation that he worked as a miner prior to enlistment.

The trawler, ‘River Tay’ in which James Wright tragically lost his life was formerly H.M.S. Henry Butcher, an Admiralty Trawler built in March 1918 at Hall, Russell at Aberdeen. At the time of his death, the vessel was operated by George Gallie Paton, Granton and registered there as GN54.

On 29 November 1943, during a gale when her engine broke down, she was driven ashore and wrecked on Ruhna an Ridire, Sound of Mull.

References

  • The Scotsman dated 1 March 1934, page 13.
  • Birth Records (Scotlands People).
  • Death Records (Scotlands People).
  • 1891 Census (Ancestry).
  • 1901 Census (Ancestry).
  • 1921 Census (Scotlands People).
  • Register of Seaman’s Services (Ancestry).
  • Navy Service Record (National Archive).
  • Naval Medals and Awards (Ancestry).

Groups

Contributors:-

  • Audrey Mavor (Main Article)
  • Vincent Stuart (Medals)