Petty Officer Stoker, 306380, James Davidson Mitchell Durno (33) – Accidentally Killed

Royal Navy, H.M.S. Scourge, 19th November 1915

James Durno

Synopsis of Life and Military Service

James Durno was born at Lowestoft, Suffolk, on 4 December 1881, baptised at Lowestoft on 6 February 1882, his birth being registered in the town of Mutford, near Lowestoft, in the first quarter of 1882. He moved to Morayshire in early childhood and resided in Burghead from the age of six. He was the son of Alexander and Margaret Durno and lived with his family at 9 Sellar Street, Burghead. Before enlisting, he was employed as a stonemason.

He joined the Royal Navy at Burghead on 9 April 1904 and served for approximately eleven years. His service record describes him as 5 feet 7 inches in height, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He had tattoos consisting of an anchor, a cross and the initials “J.D.” on his left forearm, with dots on his left hand. During his naval career he served aboard or at HMS Acheron, Pembroke II, Cumberland, Cochrane, Bacchante, St George and Egmont, and rose to the rank of Chief Stoker, Petty Officer.

From April 1914 he was serving aboard HMS Scourge, a Beagle-class destroyer launched in 1910. At the outbreak of the First World War the ship was operating in the Mediterranean and Adriatic regions. In late 1914 HMS Scourge was deployed to the Red Sea, where she took part in operations at Aqaba, including the bombardment of a Turkish-held fort in November. The ship subsequently returned to home waters and by February 1915 was based at Portsmouth, escorting troopships to France.

HMS Scourge.

In March 1915 HMS Scourge was ordered back to the Dardanelles. On 25 April 1915 she formed part of the Second Squadron supporting the landings at Anzac Cove at the commencement of the Gallipoli Campaign. On 7 August 1915, while operating off the Suvla Bay beaches, the ship was hit by Turkish shellfire while attempting to assist a grounded vessel. One crewman was killed and damage to the engine room forced the ship to withdraw for repairs.

On 19 November 1915 an accidental boiler explosion occurred aboard HMS Scourge near Mudros, Greece, resulting in the deaths of six stokers, including Chief Stoker Petty Officer James Durno, aged 33. He was buried at sea. Contemporary newspaper reports recorded that he had recently been home on leave and noted the sympathy felt locally for his family following his death.

He is honoured and remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

His mother Margaret was the recipient of his War Pension.

The Northern Scot dated 27 November 1915

Petty Officer James Durno, Burghead

Official initiation has been received by Mr. Alexander Durno, 9 Sellar Street, Burghead, that his son, Petty Officer James Durno, was killed at the Dardanelles as a result of a boiler explosion on Friday, 19th inst., on board H.M.S. Scourge.Petty Officer Durno, who was quite a young man, was recently home on holiday. He had been in the Navy for about seven years. Much sympathy is felt for the relatives of the deceased in their sad bereavement.

The Northern Scot dated 4 December 1915

Stoker Petty Officer James Durno, Burghead

As mentioned in last issue, official intimation has been received by Mr. Alexander Durno, 9 Sellar Street, Burghead, that his son, Stoker Petty Officer James Durno, was killed at the Dardanelles as a result of a boiler explosion on Friday, 19th November (1915) on board H.M.S. Scourge. Petty Officer Durno, who was quite a young man, was recently home on holiday. He was 33 years of age and had been in the Navy for about eleven years. Much sympathy is felt for the relatives of the deceased in their sad bereavement.

Family

James Davidson Mitchell Durno was born on 4 December 1881 at Lowestoft, Suffolk.

The following family information has been ascertained :-

  • Father: Alexander Durno, born c.1849 at Enzie, Banffshire. (Cooper)
  • Mother: Margaret Peattie Mitchell or Durno, born c.1848 at Crail, Fife. (Dressmaker)
  • Sister: Jessie A., born c.1872 at Lowestoft, Suffolk.
  • Sister: Mary J., born c.1874 at Lowestoft, Suffolk.
  • Sister: Margaret, born c.1881 at Lowestoft, Suffolk.
  • Brother: David, born 2 February 1884 at Lowestoft, Suffolk. (Cooper)
  • Sister: Georgina, born c.1888 at England.

Addresses

Records show that Wilfred lived in:

  • 1881: 4 Summer Road, Mutford, Lowestoft, Suffolk.
  • 1882: Lowestoft, Suffolk.
  • 1891: 14 Thom Street, Duffus, Moray.
  • 1901: 9 Sellar Street, Burghead, Moray.
  • 13 June 1919: His family is shown as residing at 27 Bruce Street, St. Aethans, Burghead, Morayshire.

Medals

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

Memorials

James Durno is honoured and remembered on the following memorials:-

Panel of Burghead Memorial, Moray – © Vincent Stuart

Remarks

His brother David served in France in the Great War, joining the 4th Gordon Highlanders on 8 December 1914 as Private, 3363.

In the incident that claimed James’s life, five other members of HMS Scourge’s crew were also killed. They were :-

  • Thomas William Brown, Stoker 1st Class, SS/13656, Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
  • George Robert Jarvis, Petty Officer Stoker, 306751, Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
  • John Sharp, Stoker 1st Class, 307371, Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
  • John Walsh, Stoker 1st Class, SS/116205, Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
  • Jeremiah Taw, Leading Stoker, 311306, Plymouth Naval Memorial

Links to Additional Information

References

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  • 1881 Census.
  • 1891 Census
  • 1901 Census.
  • Morayshire Roll of Honour
  • Registration of Births, Sussex, 1882.
  • British Royal Naval Death Records.
  • ADM 242 Naval Casualties.
  • The Northern Scot Newspaper dated 27 November 1915, page 3.
  • The Northern Scot Newspaper dated 4 December 1915, page 5.
  • Aberdeen Weekly Journal, dated 3 December 1915, page 9.
  • UK, Naval Medal and Awards Rolls. (Ancestry)
  • Norfolk, C. of E., Births and Baptisms: 1882 Parish of Lowestoft. (Ancestry)
  • ADM 188 The Royal Navy Seamen records. (The National Archive)
  • Pension Cards (Western Front Association)

Groups

Contributors:-

  • Vincent Stuart