Collingwood Battalion ROH
James Broderick Tilney Church was the only son of Mr and Mrs James Church, late of Buenos Aires, and grandson of the late John Broderick Dale, of Cleaton Meadows, Durham.
Passing in to the Britannia from Stubbington House, Fareham, he entered the Navy in 1901, showing brilliant qualities in seamanship, navigation, gunnery, and French. He resigned as a sub-lieutenant in 1908, to go abroad, returning with the Fijian Contingent in January 1915.
On arrival in England, he was given a commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, with four and a half years seniority, and was attached to the Collingwood Battalion of the Royal Navy Division. This young Officer was 27 years of age, a brilliant linguist, speaking Hindustani and eight Polynesian dialects.
Placed in command of 'C' Company, he was in the thick of the fight on 4th June, setting a splendid example to his men and while advancing under a very heavy fire was killed on the field after an excellent effort to penetrate the Turkish defences.
