Petty Officer 1st Class James Highfield Edney served for more than 20 years in the Navy before the First World War. He was born in Northumberland in 1865, the first of two son’s born to Henry and Harriet Edney.
He was a chauffeur when he married Henrietta Robertson in 1910. They had four children; the youngest was born in September 1917 so sadly she never met her father.
James served on many ships, then joined the newly commissioned battleship H.M.S. Ocean in 1901. The Ocean was at the China Station at the time of the Boxer rebellion. James joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in 1903.
He was recalled to service on the 2nd of August 1914 and joined the crew of the Laurentic on the 23rd of November that same year. In December the Laurentic left Liverpool for Sierra Leone and from August 1915 patrolled around Singapore, Rangoon and Hong Kong, leaving Asia in June 1916 bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Laurentic returned to Liverpool carrying Royal Canadian Navy Officers, rated seamen and Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserves, arriving early in December 1916. After a short period of shore leave Laurentic’s company returned to the ship, embarking again for Halifax in late December. It is not known exactly when the Laurentic returned to Liverpool but we do know the ship set sail again for Halifax on the 24th of January 917.
James’ body was recovered and is buried in the mass grave in St Mura’s Churchyard, Fahan.
West Sussex Gazette – Thursday 15 February 1917
James Highfield Edney, first-clans petty officer, RNR met his death through sinking of HMS Laurentic.on January 25th. He resided at Highfield, Four Marks, and was a naval pensioner. He had seen a good deal of service in his time, and held the Egyptian War Medal, Alexandra Clasp, and Bronze Star, and posessed the Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
Sources:-
The British Newspaper Archive
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
The National Archives of the UK
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
The Legacy of the Laurentic 