On Portsmouth Naval memorial, Hampshire is the name of M32272 Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class James Ernest Bright serving on H.M.S. “P12” with the Royal Navy who died 04/11/1918.
He was the son of John and Mary Jane Bright, of 16, West Parade, Cross Lane, Sacriston, Co. Durham.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Ernest Bright was one of 8 known children, offspring of John Bright and Mary Jane Richardson.
John Bright was born in the village of Feering, Essex in 1852 where he was baptised by his parents, farm labourer William Bright and Hannah Martin, February 22nd. He left his family home in Essex after 1871 in search of better prospects and migrated to the north-east of England where he met Mary Jane Richardson. Born in Willington, County Durham in 1860, Mary Jane was the daughter of coal miner John Richardson and his wife Margaret.
After their marriage in Durham in 1876, John and Mary Jane settled in Brandon where their daughter Annie was born March 12th 1877. John was employed as a bricklayer by 1881 and had transferred his family to Langley Moor, the birthplace of their daughter Emily in 1881, John Martin 1884 and William Cecil, July 26th 1887 but they had moved briefly to Jarrow on the outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne by the time Alice was born in 1891 as John Bright was working as a cartman.
After the death of their one year old daughter Alice in 1892 they moved to Middle Rainton, County Durham, birthplace of James Ernest, October 1st 1896 then to Boyne where Mary Jane gave birth to Lucy in 1899. By 1901 John Bright was again employed as a bricklayer and the family were living at 36, Princess Street, Littleburn, in the parish of Brandon and Byshottles.
To increment the family income, Emily (20) was working on her own account as a dressmaker John (16) was serving an apprenticeship as a barber and hairdresser and William (14) was employed as a colliery labourer below ground. Annie had left the family home as she was now married to assistant schoolmaster George Rhodes and living at Smith Terrace in the village of Easington Lane. James Ernest (4) and Lucy (2) remained at home with their mother who gave birth to Elizabeth Hannah in Nettlesworth in 1902.
Mary Jane Bright nee Richardson died in the district of Chester le Street in 1909, in 1911 widower John Bright, a bricklayer at the coke ovens, James Ernest (14) a colliery token’s boy above ground and scholars Lucy (12) and Elizabeth Hannah (9) occupied 4 rooms at 34, Victoria Street, Sacriston, County Durham.
When Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany, August 4th 1914, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and the order that all regiments raise new battalions. Once the initial rush of volunteers subsided and it became obvious the war would be more prolonged than at first anticipated, the Military Act of January 1916 imposed enlistment for all single men 18-41 years of age, this was extended to married men in the same age group in May 1916. Despite this the war record of James Ernest Bright does not contain any information prior to 1918.
James Ernest Bright enlisted in Portsmouth, June 17th 1918, leaving his employment as an engine fitter and turner. Described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, brown hair, blue eyes, he was assigned as M32272 for the duration of hostilities to the Royal Navy. He was stationed at the shore base Victory II in Portsmouth as Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class.
James Ernest Bright was aboard HMS P12 at the time of his demise. Operating out of Portsmouth the HMS P12 was a naval steam driven patrol boat, one of 12 such vessel of the Portsmouth Escort Force. The ship was armed with a deck gun, a QF 2 pounder Anti Aircraft gun, 2 x 14 inch torpedo tubes which later during her use were substituted with depth charges.
November 4th 1918 HMS P12 was involved in a collision with the Belgian owned oil tanker SS Emanuel Nobel close to the Isle of White. The Belgian tanker ripped HMS P12 in half, dragging one section some half mile before they both sank in some 20 metres of water. The bow section was retrieved, towed and beached at Whitecliff Bay, the stern section lies on the sea bed half a mile east of Culver Cliff.
The exact number of crew aboard HMS P12 is unknown but this type of vessel usually had between 50-54 men on board. Records state there was only one casualty on the day although he remains unnamed and another crew member died of injuries two days later. As Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class James Ernest Bright’s naval record states, “Lost his life when HMS P12 was in collision,” this unnamed casualty can only be referring to him.
The body of Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class James Ernest Bright was never recovered for a Christian burial, his sacrifice is recorded as one of over 25,000 names inscribed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. The memorial in the form of an oblique stands on Southsea Common overlooking the promenade, commemorating Royal Navy casualties of WW1 and WW2 who have no known grave or where a permanent memorial could not be raised. Acting Engine Room Artificer Bright was 22 years of age and single.
His father John Bright resident of 1, Blackett Street, Sacriston, County Durham, received all monies due to his late son from the Royal Navy, a gratuity and a pension of 5 shillings a week as of November 11th 1918 for life, also his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His son’s time in the Royal Navy was short lived and tragically he died only 7 days prior to the declaration of the Armistice with Germany, November 11th 1918.
Although of eligible age to serve no records have been found for James Ernest’s elder brothers.
In 1932 John Bright died in the district of Chester le Street, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Ernest Bright is remembered at Sacriston on S113.04, S113.07 and S113.11 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
