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Casulaty Details

 
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Name: James LEARMOUTH
Casualty No.: Ranks: Able Seaman Initials: J Service No.:
Date of Birth : 09/05/1921 Place of Birth : Age at Death: 19
Unit: HMS Dunvegan Castle, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Former Unit(s):
Place Enlisted:
Place of Residence: West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Home Address: 10 Reasby Gardens, Barmoor, West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Previous Address:
Civilian Employment: Miner (hauler/driver) at Emma Colliery.
How Died: Lost at sea.
Date of Death: Wednesday 28th August 1940
Place of Death:
Battle/Campaign:
Locally Commemorated: Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
UK Commemorated: Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Overseas Commemorated: -
Buried: No known grave.
Decoration and Medals: 1939-45 Star. Atlantic Star. War Medal.
Photographs: 0
Service Records: No
Death Notice/Obituary:
Family Details:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Learmouth, of 10 Reasby Gardens, Barmoor, West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Notes : On leaving his education, James began work at Emma Colliery on 1st December 1936. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 25th October 1939. HMS Dunvegan Castle was undertaking convoy escort when she was sunk by the German U-Boat U46 off the Irish coast. She was torpedoed three times but stayed afloat for some time before eventually sinking. Four officers and 23 ratings were lost with some twelve wounded. 250 survived the sinking and some were picked up by HMS Primrose and HMS Harvester, who landed them at Gourock, Scotland. A resident who lived in the same street as the Learmouth family recalls the high pitched screams of Mrs Learmouth upon hearing the news of her son's death.
Sources Used: Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register. Blaydon Courier, 13th September 1940. Emma Colliery Personnel Records at Durham County Records Office.
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