Rank
Master
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
Date of death
20 January 1917
Age of death
34
Local memorial
Cemetery / Memorial
United Kingdom
Biography
Born in about 1883 at the Orkney Islands, son of Robert (Ships Master) and Mary Sutherland, living at Stromness. James would follow his father into the Merchant Service. In early 1911 he married Amelia McKay, and the Census of that year shows their home was at 47 Waverley Road, South Woodford. However, James was away from home, most probably at sea.
On 20th January 1917 the “Bulgarian”, owned by the Ellerman-Papayanni Line of Liverpool, was voyaging from Cartagena to Garston with a load of iron ore. About 50 miles West of Fastnet, the ship was torpedoed by Kptlt. Walter Roehr in the U84. 14 men, including James Sutherland were lost, and 9 made prisoners of war.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com