Photo: B. Chandler

Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

In Amble West Cemetery is a headstone which reads:
In loving memory of
James
Dearly loved husband of
Annie J. Brown
Lost at sea enemy action
4th July 1940 aged 66 years.
Also Capt. James their son
Lost at sea enemy action
5th Dec. 1940 aged 34 years.

He was the son of James and Annie Jane Brown, of Amble, Northumberland, born 1906.

On the 10th June 1940, the Pellice was seized by Britain at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and renamed 'Empire Statesman' by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).

At 19.12 hours on the 11th December 1940 the unescorted Empire Statesman (Master James Brown), a straggler from convoy SLS-56 due to engine troubles since the 21st November, was torpedoed and sunk by U-94 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Herbert Kuppisch west of Ireland. The master, 30 crew members and one gunner were lost.

On board the Empire Statesman was another James Brown from Amble, who was 3rd Officer.

James Brown is remembered in Amble on A13.01 and A13.06, at Newcastle in NUT136 page 20, and in our List of Ship's Crew

S.S. Empire Statesman Crew List
The CWGC entry for Master Brown