James, Gilbert Charles



Although Gilbert Charles James held the rank of Leading Stoker on HMS Hercules from 1914, he actually served continuously on the ship from her first commissioning on 30 July 1911 until the end of the war. He was a Stoker 1st Class until 30 October 1913 when he became Acting Leading Stoker, being confirmed in the rank from 6 November 1914. He then transferred to Victory on 13 November 1918. Unusually his service number was K1! (Source granddaughter Beryl James and Admiralty Service Record ADM-188-867-1.) Beryl James comments "Grandad's unusual service number came about, because he joined on the first of January, immediately after the new method of allotting service numbers came into force. Stokers were allocated the prefix K, hence he got K1."


 * 1) HMS Hercules Crew List (Photographs)
 * 2) HMS Hercules Crew List (updated in Real-time)