Walter James

Able Seaman Walter James – Royal Navy (H.M.S. Vivid)

Early Life

 James James and Sarah Ann Thomas
marriage certificate
Parish of Llansamlet

Walter James was born in 1898 in Swansea, the son of James James and Sarah Ann Thomas, who were married in 1872 at the Parish Church of Llansamlet.

In the first quarter of 1900, Walter’s mother, Sarah Ann (“Sally”), sadly died at the age of 48 and was buried at St. Peter’s Church, Cockett.

1901 Census

At the time of the 1901 Census, Walter’s father, James James, a Tailor born in Pembrokeshire, was living with his family at 14 Burlais Crescent, Swansea. Then aged 50, he was recorded as a widower. His children were Jason (19), Edith (15), Christopher (13), Ings (9), and Walter (3).

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, Walter, aged 13, was recorded as an inmate at the Neath Union Cottage Homes—a branch workhouse established for the care and education of pauper children. His early years, marked by the loss of his mother and separation from his family, reveal a life shaped by hardship and resilience.

Naval Service

In later years, Walter joined the Royal Navy, serving at H.M.S. Vivid, the Royal Navy’s training and administrative base at Devonport, Plymouth. This shore establishment trained new recruits in seamanship, gunnery, and naval discipline before posting them to ships across the fleet.

Walter achieved the rank of Able Seaman, demonstrating skill, commitment, and determination. For a young man who had endured personal loss and institutional life, naval service offered both opportunity and belonging within a proud maritime tradition.

Death

British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Walter James died on 31^st March 1920 at Millbank Military Hospital, London, from pulmonary tuberculosis — a condition that afflicted many servicemen during and after the war, often linked to the harsh conditions of military life. He was 21 years old.

Following his death, Walter’s body was brought home to Swansea for burial.

Burial

Walter James
St. Peters church
credit - findagrave

St. Peters Church
burial register

Walter was buried at St. Peter’s Church, Cockett, alongside his mother. His grave marks the resting place of a young sailor whose short life was shaped by both adversity and service. Though his years were few, his story reflects the quiet courage and endurance of those who served their country in the wake of the Great War.

Legacy

Able Seaman Walter James stands as a poignant reminder of the many young men who overcame hardship to serve in the Royal Navy during and after the First World War. His life — from the Neath Union Cottage Homes to H.M.S. Vivid and finally St. Peter’s Church, Cockett — tells a story of perseverance, service, and sacrifice. His name endures among Swansea’s sons who gave their strength, health, and youth in the service of their country.