Pelton Cemetery
KX/217 Able Seaman
J. Griffin R.N.V.R.
Howe Bn R.N.D.
2nd December 1915 Age 18
Greater Love
Hath No Man Than This
That A Man Lay Down His Life
For His Friend.
William Kirby has submitted the following:-
James, born 1897 at Pelton, was the son of John and Annie Griffin. In 1911 the family were living at 9 Eden Terrace Beamish, Father John was a stoneman at the local mine as were George Joseph and William. James aged 13 was still at school. The family later moved to 30 Black Horse Terrace Pelton and later again to High Hold Pelton.
James Griffin enlisted and joined the Durham Light Infantry but was almost immediately transferred to the Howe Battalion Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Naval Records give his date of birth as 13th April 1896 however his birth was registered in the correct quarter 1897.
The Newcastle Journal 24/05/1915 reports that James has been wounded in the Dardanelles and adds that he was with the Naval Brigade at Antwerp.
James died 2nd December 1915 at Haslar Hospital, Gosport, Hampshire, from gun shot wounds to his skull, encephalitis and exhaustion.
The Chester-le-Street Chronicle 10/12/1915 reports:-
Griffin - Urpeth, West Terrace, on the 2nd inst., of wounds received in Dardanelles, aged 18 years, James the dearly beloved son of John and Annir Griffin (late of Perkinsville)
Military Funeral
The funeral of the late Private James Griffin, 18 years and 8 months of West Terrace, Urpeth and late of Perkinsville took place at Pelton cemetery on Thursday. It was fully military and was very largely attended. Deceased died at Portsmouth on December 2nd, after having been wounded in the Dardanelles. The funeral ceremony was conducted by the Vicar of Pelton, the Rev. C.F.B. Hazlewood assisted by the Rev. E.J. Taylor, Vicar of West Pelton.
Recipient of the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
John and Annie Griffin both died in 1927 and are buried next to James at Pelton Cemetery.
James Griffin is remembered at Pelton on P26.01 and at West Pelton on W112.01
