In Preston Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave with a private headstone of 168854 Petty Officer Stoker James Glover serving on H.M.S. Talisman with the Royal Navy who died 23/03/1916.
The headstone reads:-
In memory
of
James Glover
(Stoker Petty Officer
H.M.S. Talisman)
Died March 23rd 1916
aged 46 years
This tablet is erected by
his shipmates.
He was the son of Thomas and Ann Glover, of St. Helens, Lancashire.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Glover was one of 7 children and the only son of Thomas Glover and Ann/Annie Naylor.
His parents were born in Lancashire, Thomas Glover in the township of Parr, a ward of St. Helens, October 25th 1835 and Ann in the village Haydock in 1833. They were married November 6th 1869 at Farnworth near Prescot.
James Glover was born in St. Helens Lancashire May 23rd 1870 and baptised June 5th, Anne, August 2nd 1872 and Alice Ellen, July 12th 1873 but sadly less than three months later their daughter Anne died October 2nd 1873.
Edith Ann Glover was born, October 10th 1875 at 70, Traverse Street, St. Helens which became the Glover family’s permanent home where Sarah Elizabeth was born September 2nd 1877, Clara, July 30th 1879 and Dinah, August 23rd 1881.
Plate glass grinder Thomas Glover was widowed within months of Dinah’s birth September 13th 1881, his wife Ann/Annie Glover nee Naylor was only 48 years of age. Three years later the Glover children were orphaned when their father Thomas (48) died in 1884, the late couple’s daughter Sarah Elizabeth in 1885.
By 1891 the children had gone their separate ways Alice Ellen (18) and Clara (11) had gone into service, Dinah (9) was being cared for by her extended family, James (21) was working as a locomotive engine fireman and living as a lodger in the home of engine drive William Green and his family at 7, Comesby Lane, Ashton in Makerfield, Wigan.
All the Glover sisters were later married and Clara in particular emigrated with her husband to Canada.
August 9th 1892 James Glover joined the Royal Navy at Chatham signing up for 12 years. In 1892 he was described as 5 feet 6 and a half inches tall with dark hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion, a cut on right wrist and a scar on right side of face. In 1904 he was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall.
Given his civilian work as a locomotive fireman he was assigned as Stocker 2nd Class. Punctuated by periods ashore at Pembroke II he served until the outbreak of war with Royal Sovereign, H.M.S. Immortalite, H.M.S. Pyramus, H.M.S. Audacious, H.M.S. Fisgard, H.M.S. Firequeen, H.M.S. Sappho, H.M.S. Leda, H.M.S. Ganges II which during WW1 became a base ship and later based at Shotley, H.M.S. St. George, H.M.S. Tyne, H.M.S. Vengeance and lastly H.M.S. Talisman. During his many years of service he rose through the ranks to Petty Officer Stoker.
Petty Officer Stoker 168854 James Glover died at North Shield Infirmary, Tynemouth, historically in County Durham March 23rd 1916 from pneumonia and was buried with full military honours within Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery where he is at rest grave K.C. 12140. He was 46 years of age and single. Awards; 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His sister Mrs Edith Anne Middlehurst resident of Moss Cottage, Hope Street, Prescot, Lancashire was informed of his demise.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Glover is remembered in our List of Ships’ Crews.
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