More about James Mitchell Reid

James M Reid lived at Lilac Cottage, Dronley, Angus and joined the Royal Naval Reserve as a Sub Lieutenant in July 1915. He was promoted to Acting Lieutenant in August. Prior to volunteering he served as the Third Officer onboard the Liverpool Registered SS Navigator. He was also the Third Officer in the SS Sculptor and the SS Musician before volunteering for the Navy. In 1918 he was serving HMS M18, a shallow draft Monitor fitted with a large calibre gun used for shore bombardment and she served in the Mediterranean from 1915 to 1918. A similar ship, M33, is preserved the National Museum of the Royal Navy in HM Naval Base Portsmouth. James Reid died of illness whilst on leave at home and he is buried in Balgay Cemetery, Dundee, grave reference F.6.162. There is a report in the Peoples Journal of 2 November 1918.

H.M.S. M18 was a 540 ton M15 Class Monitor, designed as a Shore Bombardment Vessel. She was armed with a single 9.2 inch Gun. In addition to her 9.2 she also possessed a 12 pounder and a 6 pounder anti-aircraft Gun. Her crew consisted of 69 Officers and men. She was sold in 1920 for Mercantile Service as an oil tanker and renamed “Anam”.