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| Casualty No.: |
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Ranks: |
Leading Seaman |
Initials: |
J |
Service No.: |
P/JX153618 |
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| Date of Birth : |
19/08/1942 |
Place of Birth : |
Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
Age at Death: |
21 |
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| Unit: |
HM Landing Craft Flak (L) 1, Royal Navy. |
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| Place Enlisted: |
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| Place of Residence: |
Barmoor, West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Home Address: |
Thorpe Cottages, Barmoor, West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Previous Address: |
12 Emma View, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham |
| Civilian Employment: |
Served an apprenticeship at Vickers Armstrong, Scotswood Road Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. |
| How Died: |
Killed in action |
| Date of Death: |
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| Place of Death: |
Dieppe, France. |
| Battle/Campaign: |
Dieppe Raid, France. |
| Locally Commemorated: |
Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| UK Commemorated: |
- |
| Overseas Commemorated: |
- |
| Buried: |
Newhaven Cemetery, Sussex. |
| Decoration and Medals: |
1939-45 Star. Atlantic Star. War Medal. |
| Photographs: |
4 |
| Service Records: |
No |
| Death Notice/Obituary: |
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| Family Details: |
Son of James and Ellen Relph, of 13 Thorpe Cottages, Barmoor, West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Brother: Wilfred. Sister: Joy.
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| Notes : |
James served on board HMS Manchester from the day the ship left the waters of the River Tyne after its completion. He had passed to be a Petty Officer but trained as a Commando, eventually gaining many worthy distinctions in his six years of serving in the Royal Navy. He gained a certificate for his role in the attack on the Italian Fleet off Cape Spartivento, 27th November 1940, and he also took part in assisting with the evacuations of Narvik and Trondheim, Norway. James had seen action many times throughout his time in the Navy. His brother, Sergeant Wilfred Relph aged 29 years, had spent nine years serving with the RAF and for a period piloted Sunderland flying boats. After the war Wilfred made a career in the RAF and upon retirement had gained the rank of Wing Commander.
James had been on leave at home only three weeks before his death. He was at one time connected with the Ryton Congregational Church at Barmoor, West Ryton.
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| Sources Used: |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register.
Blaydon Courier, 28th August 1942.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle, In Memoriam, 19th August 1946.
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