James Horace Wainscoat

Gunner James Horace Wainscoat Worksop Guardian 9 June 1916 Leading seaman Gunner James Horace Wainscoat, H.M.S Southampton second son of Mr Thomas Wainscoat, 170 Gateford road, Worksop, and Grandson of Mr James Wainscoat, Hartill, has died from his wounds received in the Naval engagement on May 31st. Mr Wainscoat was notified by the Admiralty that his son had bee dangerously wounded, and on Wednesday morning he received a telegram from the Fleet Surgeon announcing his death, and stating that the body had been removed to the Naval Hospital, Queensferry. The late Gunner Wainscoat was well known and highly respected in both Worksop and Harthill, and was home on leave as recently as seven weeks ago. He was in his 24th year and joined the Navy about six years ago, prior to which time he served four years in the Post Office, Retford, his native place. As a boy he attended Thrumpton School. He was a fine specimen of manhood and stood over six feet. His younger brother is in the army with the Notts and Derby’s, and at present time is serving in France. Since joining the Navy the deceased has seen varied service. He went with a Squadron to the opening of the Kiel Canal, now the hiding place of the German Navy, and was cruising in the Mediterranean, and visited Egypt about three years ago, during the time of the late Earl Kitchener was there, also visiting Malta, Barcelona, Italy and Greece. Gunner Wainscoat was at Gibraltar on HMS London when the “Delhi” was wrecked with the Princess Royal, her two daughters and the late Duke of Fife on board. He was chosen to go across the Straits to help in the rescue, which was successfully effected, and for services rendered he was awarded a medal by the Board of Trade, and was decorated personally by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends will, we are sure, be extended to his father in the loss he has sustained by the death of such a brave sailor son. The internment will take place at Harthill, with which village his family have many associations, tomorrow (Saturday). Leading Seaman James Horace Wainscoat Worksop Guardian 22 September 1916 Reference is made to the account of the Jutland battle by a writer in a leading pictorial paper to the fight put up by HMS Southampton, and incidentally, to the late Leading Seaman James Horace Wainscoat, son of Mr Thomas Wainscoat, 170 Gateford Road, Worksop and grandson of Mrs James Wainscoat, Harthill, who died as a result of wounds received in the engagement. The writer says:- “ Leading Seaman Wainscoat one of our gun layers, was ordered to find the range. But Wainscoat laid his gun so accurately that with the first round from it he plumped a shell right into one of the German destroyers, cutting her in two. I am sorry to say that later in the action, Wainscoat was mortally injured. The Gunner was heard to say, ‘thank God I did for one of them’ – referring of course to his destroyer he had sunk with his first shot. This remark was made when he was suffering much pain through his injuries.”

CWG additional information:- Son of Thomas and Annie Elizabeth Wainscoat, of 184, Gateford Rd., Worksop, Notts. Born at Retford. Buried at Harthill (All Hallows) Churchyard Extension. Research by Colin Dannatt