Person

James Crosby was born on 20 June 1886 in South Shields. His parents were Thomas W Crosby and Margaret Crosby (1861-1920). It appears that both his parents were Irish born, as was his older brother, Thomas, who was born in 1880. His younger brother, Robert, was born in 1889 in South Shields.

James’ early family life seems somewhat complex but at all three censuses from, 1891 to 1911, he was living in Middle Street, North Shields, Northumberland. In 1889 his mother married John Drew who headed the household at the 1891 census. She married John Foy in Tynemouth in 1896 and he headed the household at the 1901 census.

James was working as an errand boy for the port at the time of the 1901 census.

In 1905 he married Margaret Jane Crosby (1887) who was born in Murton. By 1911 they had established their own household in Middle Street and had two daughters. James was working as a fireman at the time of the census which denotes he was a stoker, probably on a ship. His mother was a charwoman and took in lodgers. She and the younger brother lived in another property in Middle Street and she reverted to using the surname Drew.

James was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) and served in the war as an engineman with the service number 4528/ES. An engineman in the RNR ranked, on entry, with a stoker petty officer of four years’ seniority in the Royal Navy. James served on trawlers from the Lowestoft Naval Base. On 20 January 1917 he was serving on HM Trawler New Comet when he was reported missing, killed along with eight other crew when the trawler was blown up by a mine off Orford Ness, Suffolk. His body was not recovered for burial.

He is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial and on the Roll of Honour 1914-18 for Tynemouth Borough.

James Crosby was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: South Shields

Birth date: 20-Jun-1886

Death date: 20-Jan-1917

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 9 Middle Street, North Shields (1891 census)
36 Middle Street, North Shields (1901 census)
20 Middle Street, North Shields (1911 census)

Employment: Errand boy (1901 census)
Fireman (1911 census)

Family: Parents: Thomas W Crosby, Margaret Crosby (1861-1920)
Siblings: Thomas Crosby (1880); Robert Crosby (1889)
Spouse: Margaret Jane Crosby (1887)
Children : Elizabeth W Crosby (1905), Margaret Jane Crosby (1889)

Military service:

4528/ES
Engineman
HM Trawler New Comet

Medal(s): Victory Medal, British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Roll of Honour Borough 1914-18, Tynemouth

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham