Walter Donald James – Royal Navy H.M.S. Vivid

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

Walter Donald James, born in 1898 in Swansea, was the son of James James and Sarah Ann Thomas, who married in 1872 at Llansamlet. His early life can be traced through the surviving census records, which show a household shaped by loss and steady working‑class employment.

Census Background 

1901 Census

In 1901, the James family were living at 14 Burlais Crescent, Swansea. James, aged 50 and born in Pembrokeshire, was employed as a tailor cutter and was already widowed. His children present were Jason (19), a railway worker; Edith (15); Christopher (13); Imgs (9) and Walter (3), the youngest of the household.

1911 Census

By 1911, Walter, aged 13, was recorded at Blaenhonddan, Neath, attending school. This suggests he may have been living away from home for educational or family reasons, a common practice among working families seeking opportunities for their children.

Walter Donald James
St. Peter's Church, Cockett
credit - finagrave

Naval Service – Royal Navy, H.M.S. Vivid

Walter later enlisted in the Royal Navy, serving as an Able Seaman. His records place him at H.M.S. Vivid, the Royal Naval Barracks at Devonport, which served as a major training and administrative centre for naval personnel. Many Swansea men passed through Vivid during the First World War and the years immediately following, receiving seamanship, gunnery, and technical instruction.

Death and Burial

Walter Donald James died from tuberculosis on 31 March 1920 in London. His body was brought home to Swansea, where he was laid to rest at St Peter’s, joining the parish’s roll of servicemen whose lives were shaped by wartime service and its lingering effects.