| Date |
Information |
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| 26/12/2019 |
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| 26/12/2019 |
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| 07/10/2019 |
On 2 October 1942, 30 miles north of the coast of Ireland HMS Curacoa was escorting the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary who was carrying 10,000 American troops of the 29th Infantry Division to join the Allied forces in Europe. |
| 07/10/2019 |
James Jamfrey was the youngest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jamfrey. According to GRONI Thomas ‘Jeffers’ and Elizabeth Cardwell were married on 21st April 1887 in the district of Dungannon. |
| 07/10/2019 |
James Jamfrey was born on 17th September 1893 in Cookstown. He was one of seven children. All the children were born in Cookstown except William, who was born in Omagh. |
| 07/10/2019 |
The 1901 census lists James as age 7, living with the family at house 2 in Coolnafranky, Cookstown, County Tyrone. His father was a plate layer. |
| 07/10/2019 |
Family: Thomas Jamfrey, Elizabeth Jamfrey , William Jamfrey (born 10th April 1888, Omagh), May Jamfrey (born 18th April 1890), James Jamfrey (born 17th September 1893), Sarah Jamfrey (born 9th April 1897), Ethel Jamfrey (born 11th September 1899), Margret Jamfrey (born 14th August 1902), Elizabeth Jamfrey (born 24th September 1907). |
| 07/10/2019 |
The 1911 census lists James as age 17, living with the family at house 1 in Coolnafranky, Cookstown. James, his brother and his father were all employed as railway porters. |
| 07/10/2019 |
Around 1919, a year after his brother William was killed in the latter days of World War One, William joined the Royal Navy. |
| 07/10/2019 |
James was the husband of Winifred Mary Jamfrey, who by 1942, was living at Groomsport Road, Bangor, County Down. |
| 07/10/2019 |
Petty Officer Stoker James Jamfrey was serving with the Royal Navy on board HMS Curacoa when he died on 2nd October 1942. He had previously been reported as missing. He was 49 years old. |
| 07/10/2019 |
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| 07/10/2019 |
RMS Queen Mary was steaming at 28 knots in an evasive zig-zagging course, but HMS CURACOA with her ageing engines, could not keep to the same zigzag pattern and was following a straight course. At 2:15 PM Queen Mary rammed HMS Curacoa, striking her amidships and cutting her in two. |
| 07/10/2019 |
HMS Curacoa sank in six minutes, about 100 yards from the Queen Mary. Due to the risk of U-boat attacks, the Queen Mary did not assist in rescue operations and instead steamed onward with a damaged bow. |
| 07/10/2019 |
Hours later, the convoy's lead escort, consisting of HMS Bramham (L51) returned to rescue 99 survivors from the HMS Curacoa's crew of 338, |
| 07/10/2019 |
Petty Officer Jamfrey has no known grave and is commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial in Kent. |
| 07/10/2019 |
Petty Officer Jamfrey is also commemorated in Bangor Parish Church of Ireland (St Comgalls) Church on the 2nd World War Memorial Plaque |
| 07/10/2019 |
Petty Officer Jamfrey is also commemorated on Bangor War Memorial. |
| 07/10/2019 |
The CWGC record Petty Officer Stoker James Jamfrey as the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jamfrey. He is also recorded as the husband of Winifred Mary Jamfrey, of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. |
| 07/10/2019 |
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| 07/10/2019 |
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| 07/10/2019 |
Petty Officer Stoker James Jamfrey had been previously been Mentioned in Despatches in the New Year’s Honours List. |
