In the New Orleans (Greenwood) Cemetery, Louisiana, U.S.A. is the grave of CH/72142 Seaman James Metcalf, serving on S.S. Queen Helena with the Royal Naval Reserve who died 25/08/1918.

Derek Johnstone and Carole Fife have provided the following:

James Metcalf was born on 17th February 1888 at Cambois in Northumberland.

In 1891 James’ family lived at 2, Gees House Cambois, his father Joseph was a coal miner from Seghill and his mother Elizabeth Ann Metcalf (nee Scott) was born in Newcastle. James was aged 3 at this time and other siblings in the family home were John William 9, Thomas 4 and Catherine 3 months.

By 1901 James was working in the coal mines as a colliery labourer and still living at 2, Gees House.

In the 1911 Census James is shown to be single and living at 26, Cowgate Cambois, in three rooms, where he was working in the coal mines as a hewer. The house he was staying in belonged to his brother John. His widowed mother Elizabeth was also a resident.

James served on the HMS Lady Cory Wright which was sunk by a submarine. He was one of the few who survived that calamity (unlike John McCarthy of Netherton who died).

In 1918, James was serving in the Royal Naval Reserve on a merchant ship, the SS Queen Helena. This ship was built at the North Eastern Marine yard in Wallsend and operated by the Dunlop Steamship Company. James died in New Orleans where the SS Queen Helena was probably loading goods for an Atlantic convoy. His death came about as a result of a fall from a gang plank while the SS Queen Helena was loading. He died from a fractured skull. His effects went to his sister Catherine Burns, shown in the photo with her daughter Amelia.

James Metcalf is remembered at Cambois on C6.02, where his name is given as “Metcalfe” and in our List of Ships’ Crews.