|
|
||
 |
|
|
James Banfield
No / Rank: Z/4591 Signaller
Born: Tintern, Mon.
H.M.S. Viking
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Date Died: 05.07.1918, Aged 19
Son of Shadrach and Mary Banfield of Commercial Road, Upper Machen.
James Banfield, a clerk prior to his engagement, enlisted in October 1917 and after service on training vessels joined the crew of H.M.S. Viking on May 1st 1918. Viking was a Tribal Class ocean going destroyer, although it served in the Dover Patrol during the Great War. Viking, launched in 1909, was armed with one 6-inch gun, two 4-inch guns and two torpedo tubes. It was the only six funnelled ship in the British Navy.
HMS Viking (copyright Imperial War Museum - reproduced with permission ref. Q21923)
The records show that Signaller Banfield was ‘Lost Overboard’ on 22nd June 1918 although he was officially declared deceased on 5th July.
A letter, published in the Weekly Argus of 13th July 1918, from Leading Signaller E.W. Griffiths to Mr and Mrs Banfield explains the circumstances of the accident, which happened in “very heavy weather in the English Channel.”
“I will not try to console you
with the fact that your son lost his life by accident while ‘doing his
bit’ as I know how futile that would be, having lost my own father by
accidental drowning at sea……….My greatest regret is that nobody saw him
go overboard or else an attempt would have been made to save him had he
floated, which is highly improbable. He came on the bridge for duty at
5 pm. At 5.30 he asked my permission to go and get a bucket for washing
his clothes. I let him go down from the bridge at 5.45 which was the
last time I saw him…………At about 6.10 pm a man picked up a bucket, which
was jammed under the guard rail. We do no know how it got there. We can
only assume that ‘Taff’ (as he was affectionately known to us all)
reached the deck and a big sea came over him taking him overboard
before he had a chance to cling to anything. He probably never knew he
went overboard as the suction from the propellers probably drew him
under……It greatly upset me as of course, he worked under me. He was
just getting used to the ways of the Navy at sea and seemed quite
happy. He was only talking to me that evening of what a good time he
would spend on his first leave from the Navy and what he would tell you
all. He was a very willing lad and a hard worker always trying his
hardest to please……………assuring you and all his friends of our deep
sympathy in your loss.
E.W.G.Signaller James Banfield’s body was recovered from the sea some days after being lost overboard and was buried at the Terlincthun cemetery, Wimille, near Calais. James Banfield is also commemorated on the Pontywaun County School and the Moriah Baptist Church memorials.