More about James Thobe/Thorpe

James Thorpe was the son of Mrs Jane Thorpe of 3 Wolseley Street, Dundee. HMS Stephen Furness was an Armed Boarding Vessel which was torpedoed and sunk by UB-64 in the Irish Sea. One hundred crew died in the sinking and James Thorpe is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial on Plymouth Hoe in Devon. In the Dundee City Roll of Honour he is listed as serving in the Royal Naval Division (Number 4004) but there are no records to support this.

James has no known grave but is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. He was serving abopard H.M.S. Stephen Furness which was requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as a Squadron Supply Ship (1915) and later as an Armed Boarding Steamer. She sank at 16:15 on 13 December, 1917 of the West Coast of the Isle of Man. The ship was enroute from Lerwick to Liverpool for repairs when she was struck by a torpedo from German Submarine UB-64.

DUNDEE STOKER KILLED IN ACTION

Mrs Thorpe, 3 Wolseley Street, Dundee, has been official notified that her son, Stoker James Thorpe, of the Royal Navy, was killed in action on 13^rdDecember last.  Previous to enlistment Stoker Thorpe was employed as an assistant overseer in Rashiewell Works.

Dundee Courier 5^th January 1918

James was the brother of Pte John Thorpe, 473, 16th Battalion Australian Infantry, who was killed in action 02.05.1915.

Both men are remembered on a family Gravemarker within Dundee’s Eastern Cemetery with the surname of “THOBE” although all official records record them as “THORPE”