James Ernest Barnard

A Seaman with H.M. Trawler Kennymore. James died on 25th of November 1940 at the age of 29. 

James was born at Lowestoft, a son of Charles Edward Turner Barnard and Lottie Maud Barnard. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 16 May 1911, and his family lived at 37 Kent Road. The baptised register gives his date of birth as 27 April, and his middle name as Ernest. However, Royal Navy war graves records give his date of birth as 29 April and his middle name as Edward.

By 1921 his family was living at 42 Norfolk Street, Lowestoft, and by 1939 his widowed mother lived at 114 Denmark Road. 

During World War Two James served on the minesweeping trawler Kennymore. On 25 November 1940, in the Thames Estuary, the Kennymore detonated a mine and sank. Four crew, including James, were killed, and four wounded with one of these subsequently dying of wounds. A contemporary newspaper report states that James returned to the stricken vessel twice in order to rescue other men.

James received a posthumous Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 4 March 1941, page 1290) 'For good services when H. M. S. Kennymore was sunk.'