More about James Lavery

For reasons unknown this man is not listed on the original Dundee Roll of Honour.

James has no known grave but is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. He was serving aboard H.M.S. Dundee which was a cargo/passenger vessel built by the Caledon Ship Yard in Dundee and launched in 1911. She was converted to an armed boarding vessel for the Royal Navy when on 02.09.1917 she was torpedoed and sunk by German Submarine UC-49, S.W. of the Scilly Isles with the loss of 9 crew. His address is also listed as 51 Foundry Lane, Dundee.

James Lavery   Stoker   Royal Naval Reserve

LAVERY^___James Lavery, Royal Naval Reserve, who was killed in action on the 2nd September, aged 30 years, dearly beloved husband of Jane Lonie, 51 Foundry Lane.

Dundee People’s Journal 15th September 1917

James Lavery was the son of Mr Philip Lavery, Dundee and the husband of Mrs Jane Lonie (formerly Lavery) of 51 Foundry Lane, Dundee and, later, of 44 Lilybank Road, Dundee. He was a Fireman onboard the SS Gowrie, a Coastal Trade vessel registered in Dundee. He had a brother named Philip and three sisters or sisters in law; Euphemia, Joan and Elizabeth. He may also be the brother of Peter Lavery, Private 7643, 2nd Highland Light Infantry, killed in action 20 Sep 14. After 1915 he signed T126 Papers which meant that he was serving under Royal Navy discipline conditions but remained a Merchant Seaman. James Lavery was serving in HMS Dundee, an Armed Boarding Vessel, when she was sunk by the German submarine, UC-49, off SW England. Four out of seven crew killed in the sinking were from Dundee. His name is recorded on the Plymouth Naval Memorial on Plymouth Hoe in Devon. HMS Dundee was awarded a Battle Honour when she and HMS Achilles, fought the German Commerce Raider Leopard in 1917.