On Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire is the name of P/JX 295195 Able Seaman James Swan serving on H.M.S. Bluebell, Royal Navy who died 17/02/1945.

The son of James and Sarah Swan, of Consett, Co. Durham.

Joyce Wilson has submitted the following:-

James was born on 13th July 1921, the son of James (born 21st August 1892) and Sarah Swan. The father James was the brother of William Swan who himself was the father of Joyce Wilson (nee Swan).

The 1939 register has James living at 11, The Bye, The Grove, Consett. Father James was a Colliery Stoneman working below ground and son James was a Public Works labourer.

James was 6 feet 3 inches tall.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle 08/03/1945 reports:
A/B James Swan, R.N. (23) son of Mr and Mrs Jas. Swan, 11 The Bye, The Grove, Consett (presumed killed)

St Mary’s War Memorial Blackhill published by Derwentside Catholic Family History Society in 1999 reads:-
James Swan, one of five children of James and Sarah Swan nee Callaghan of Pont, Consett was born 13 July 1921. After leaving school he worked for Scots(sic) who were farmers in the area and then joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer at the age of 18. He lost his life when H.M.S. Corvette Bluebell was sunk outside the Russian harbour of Murmansk on Saturday 17th February 1945.

James Swan is remembered at Blackhill in B145.01,  at Consett on C101.01 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.