COOLEY, James

James was born on the 22nd of December 1886 in Gunville to James & Louisa (nee MEANING) COOLEY who were living at Gunville, Carisbrooke around the time of James’ death. He married Ellen Walford COOLEY in 1911 at Newport Registry Office. Ellen was residing at The Flower Pot Inn in Northwood, which she had run with her husband, & prior to this, they had run the Bugle Inn in Carisbrooke.

James, who had previous Naval service 1906 – 1911, was aboard the Good Hope when she was lost with all hands during the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile on the 1st of November 1914, with the loss of 926 crew. James’ body was never recovered & so, aged 27, he is commemorated by the Commission on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial to the Missing together with 10,000 of his First World War shipmates.

James is also remembered on the County & Northwood War Memorials.