James Gordon Taylor
Memorial: Thornbury & District Museum: 6th Maritime Regiment Memorial
Regiment: 6th Maritime Regiment
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Gunner
Date of birth: 1921
Place of birth: Dundee
Date of death: 13/08/1942
Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea and commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial and the Maritime Memorial Thornbury
Age: 21
Further information:
James was born and raised in Dundee and lived in a coastal area of Dundee known as Broughty Ferry. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1941 later volunteering for the Maritime Regiment.
James was killed in action and died at sea, whilst serving aboard the SS Waimarama which was part of the fourteen-ship convoy Operation Pedestal sent to the relief of the besieged island of Malta. The Waimarama was sunk by German Junkers 88 dive bombers off Cape Bon. Direct hits by four bombs ignited aviation fuel stored in cans on her deck. The ship exploded in a sheet of flame and smoke. In less than five minutes Waimarama was gone and all 83 on board including James were lost. James was originally reported as missing which was changed to killed in action 5 months later.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?37246