Person

James Dodds was born in Hartlepool on 7 January 1873. His father was Irish born puddler Michael Morley Dodds (born 1847). His mother was Rose Dodds (born 1845), also from Ireland. He had one brother and one sister. In 1881 the Dodds family lived at 11 Portrack Street, Stockton. By the time of the 1891 census James’ father had died and he was living with his widowed mother at 5 Lumley Street, Stockton. He was working as a labourer in an ironworks at the time of this census.

James joined the Royal Navy on 20 December 1894 to serve for 12 years. He was initially rated as a stoker 2nd class with the service number 278667. He married Catherine Hannah Davies (1872-1939) in Plymouth, Devon in 1897 and they made their home in Ford, Devonport. They had two daughters and one son. At the time of the 1901 census James was serving on HMS Tribune in Bermuda.

On 7 March 1906 James decided to continue his naval career until he completed his qualifying service for a pension. He was rated as a stoker 1st class on 1 July 1906 and became a leading stoker on 12 March 1908. At the time of the 1911 census James was recorded as one of the crew of HMS Cumberland. He became a stoker petty officer on 1 September 1911.

James served on HMS Redbreast during the war. Redbreast was a requisitioned passenger and cargo ship used by the Royal Navy as a messenger ship and anti-submarine Q-ship or armed decoy ship. She was torpedoed in the Aegean Sea by German submarine UC-38 on 15 July 1917 while on passage from Skyros to the Doro Channel. James was one of 42 crew lost when the vessel sank. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

James Dodds was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Stockton on Tees

Birth date: 07-Jan-1873

Death date: 15-Jul-1917

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 11 Portrack Lane, Stockton (1881 census)
5 Lumley Street, Stockton (1891 census)
HMS Tribune, Bermuda (1901 census)
HMS Cumberland (1911 census)

Employment: Labourer in ironworks (1891 census)

Family: Parents: Michael Morley Dodds (b 1847), Rose Dodds (b 1845)
Siblings: Joseph Dodds (b 1871), May Dodds (b 1875)
Spouse: Catherine Hannah Dodds nee Davies (1872-1939)
Children: Rosalind Dodds (b 1899), Beatrice Dodds (b 1904), James Henry Dodds (b 1910)

Military service:

Royal Navy
Service number 278667
Stoker 2nd class, 20 December 1894
Stoker 1st class, 1 July 1906
Leading stoker, 12 March 1908
Stoker petty officer, 1 September 1911
HMS Tribune
HMS Cumberland
HMS Redbreast

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Plymouth Naval Memorial

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham