James Henry Court
Engine Room Artificer James Henry Court – Royal Naval Reserve, H.M.S. Beaver
Early Life
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| James Henry Court and Florence Mary Williams marriage certificate Swansea Christ Church |
James Henry Court was born in 1892 in Swansea, the eldest son of James Henry Court and Florence Mary Williams, who were married in 1871 at Swansea Christ Church.
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| 1901 Census |
According to the 1901 Census, the Court family resided at 16 Chessynie Street, Swansea. At that time, James Henry senior (aged 32) was employed as a Stationary Engine Driver, and Florence Mary (aged 30) cared for their home and children: Edith Maude (10), James Henry (9), and Florence Evelina (8 months).
Tragically, later that year, in December 1902,
Florence Mary passed away at the age of 32. In 1908, James Henry senior
remarried Gertrude Cecilia Edmunds at St. Paul’s Church, Sketty.
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| 1911 Census |
By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to Gnis Y Newydd, Clyne Valley, Blackpill, R.S.O. James Henry senior, aged 43, continued working as a Stationary Engine Man, while Gertrude, aged 27, managed the household. The children listed were Edith Maude (20), employed as a Receiving Clerk; James Henry (19), a Fitter’s Apprentice; Annie (15); and Lettice Cecilia (1).
Military Service
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| James Henry Court and Iris Mary Davies marriage certificate Clyne Chapel |
During the First World War, James Henry Court enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve. By 1917, he had attained the rank of Engine Room Artificer, a skilled engineering position responsible for maintaining and operating the complex machinery and propulsion systems aboard Royal Navy vessels. That same year, he married Iris May Davies at Clyne Chapel, Swansea.
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| H.M.S. Beaver pre First World War |
In October 1918, H.M.S. Beaver took part in
the Bombardment of Durazzo, one of the final major Allied naval
operations of the war. The destroyer formed part of a large multinational fleet
under Italian command, which included Italian cruisers, British and Australian
destroyers, and American submarine chasers. Their objective was to attack the
Austro-Hungarian port of Durazzo (modern-day Durrës, Albania), a vital supply
and evacuation point for retreating Central Powers forces. On 2nd
October 1918, the Allied fleet bombarded the port’s defences and
infrastructure under heavy counter-fire from coastal batteries, while enduring
the constant threat of enemy submarines. H.M.S. Beaver, being a fast and
agile vessel, was tasked with screening the larger cruisers, protecting them
from submarine attack, and providing supporting fire. The operation
successfully silenced enemy shore batteries, destroyed ships in the harbour,
and weakened Austro-Hungarian resistance in the Adriatic. Service aboard H.M.S.
Beaver during this campaign required exceptional endurance and technical
skill from her crew, particularly from men like Engine Room Artificer James
Henry Court, who ensured the destroyer’s engines and systems remained
operational throughout the demanding Mediterranean campaign.
Following the bombardment, H.M.S. Beaver continued
operations in the Adriatic and, after the signing of the Armistice of Mudros
on 30th October 1918, transported troops to the Dardanelles,
entered the Sea of Marmara, and proceeded to Constantinople (now
Istanbul).
Death
British Army and Navy
Birth, Marriage and Death Records
Engine Room Artificer James Henry Court died from pneumonia
on 17th October 1918, while serving in the Mediterranean
aboard H.M.S. Beaver. His death occurred at the Royal Navy Hospital,
Italy, only weeks before the end of the war. Contemporary records list
Court’s death location as “Royal Navy Hospital, Italy.” While there is no
surviving record of a permanent Royal Naval Hospital in that country,
historical evidence indicates that the Royal Navy maintained temporary Sick
Quarters and medical wards attached to British General Hospitals in
southern Italy during 1917–1918. These facilities supported Allied naval
operations in the Adriatic. The main British base hospitals in the region were
located at Taranto (79th General Hospital, formerly British Military
Hospital Taranto) and Brindisi, both serving as treatment and evacuation
points for personnel of the Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve. Given that H.M.S.
Beaver operated from Brindisi during 1918, it is likely that James
Henry Court was evacuated to one of these establishments—most probably the Taranto
or Brindisi Royal Naval Sick Quarters—where he succumbed to pneumonia in
October 1918.
Burial
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| James Henry Court Bari War Cemetery, Italy credit - finagrave |
Legacy
James Henry Court is remembered for his courage, dedication,
and technical expertise as a member of the Royal Naval Reserve. His service
aboard H.M.S. Beaver during the closing months of the First World War
placed him at the heart of a crucial Allied operation in the Adriatic,
contributing to the eventual collapse of Austro-Hungarian naval power.
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| Iris May Court and Edgar Tickell marriage certificate Clyne Chapel |
Following his death, his widow, Iris May Court, remarried Edgar Tickell at Clyne Chapel on 1st January 1920, beginning a new chapter in her life. James Henry’s name endures through official war records, family memory, and the enduring gratitude owed to all who served in the cause of peace.
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