Seaman James John Benoit of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was one of 21 Newfoundland sailors who lost their lives when the Laurentic sank on January 25th 1917. They were all experienced sailors, having been trained on HMS Calypso years before the war began.

James was born on the 1st of April 1893, in Stephenville, a small farming and fishing community in the St George’s District, on the southwest coast of Newfoundland. James was the son of John and Alice Benoit.

Before World War 1 broke out, Britain’s Royal Navy recognised just how much Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishermen had to offer. It decided to recruit volunteers into a reserve force of well trained sailors it could call upon in the event of war. The men saw enlistment in the RNR as a welcome source of income during the winter months when the fishing season was over.

Initially, the men agreed to a five-year term upon enrolment, service that included training and time at sea. When war broke out, about 500 men were enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve and they all immediately responded to the call for active service. After training on board the Calypso, the reservists from Newfoundland would be dispersed throughout the British Royal Navy, serving on different vessels around the globe.

John obviously hadn’t been at war for very long. We can see from the cap he wears in his photograph that he was assigned to HMS Briton, the Royal Naval Reserve training ship which, until 1916, was called HMS Calypso.

James John Benoit was on furlough on his way home to visit his family and friends, when he lost his life in the sinking of the Laurentic. His body was never recovered.

Sources:-

The Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Website
https://www.heritage.nf.ca/premiere-guerre-mondiale/gallery/royal-naval-reserve/index.php

Newfoundland Book of Remembrance 1867 – 1949

Veterans Affairs Canada
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/722697