Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent
Son of the late Arthur Gale & Mary Gale, 7 East
Cottage, St Aubin's Road, Jersey.
Died aged 40 years
H.M.S.Bulwark
VICTIM OF THE BULWARK DISASTER
On the 26th November 1914 while loading ammunition
at Sheerness, she was destroyed by a huge explosion,
probably caused by black powder charges being mishandled,
only 12 men survived.
H.M.S. Bulwark Memorial, Gillingham (Woodlands)
Cemetery.
Commemorated on:
St Lawrence Parish Memorial, Jersey
and on Aquila Road Methodist Church Memorial, Jersey
Commonwealth
War Graves Commission Record
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post
of Wednesday 2 December 1914
The Bulwark Disaster - Jerseyman amongst
the Twelve Survivors. Among the 12 men saved after the
Bulwark disaster was Able Seaman James John Gale, son
of the late Mr Arthur Gale of Windsor Road. The poor
fellow, who was called back to the Colours when war
broke out, now lies in Chatham Hospital badly burned
on the left side of the face and with a compound fracture
of the right leg. He is we are glad to say progressing
as satisfactorily as can be expected in the circumstances
and must be considered exceedingly fortunate to be alive
at all. Mr Gale was one of the crew of a cutter which
was wrecked some time ago off the English coast and
on that occasion also he escaped death by the narrowest
margin.
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post
of Friday 11 December 1914
Our Wounded in the English Hospitals.
Mr J D Hamon of Covent Garden, who gives all the time
he can spare to the visiting of Jerseymen lying wounded
in English hospitals, writes to me as follows "I
went yesterday to Chatham to see J J Gale, saved from
the Bulwark disaster. I found him as well as could be
expected, his face, ears and hands are shockingly burned
but pain has greatly decreased and he is keeping his
spirits up wonderfully under the circumstances. His
mother has come up to Chatham and sees him frequently."
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post
of Wednesday 13 January 1915
Jerseyman in Chatham Hospital - Three
Operations in a Month. Mr J D Hamon of Covent Garden
writes "I am sorry to say that Gale who was so
badly injured in the Bulwark disaster and has since
been lying in the Royal Naval Hospital at Chatham is
very poorly. He has had three operations since he came
here, the last one on Friday, and the poor chap seems
done up. As the London Channel Island Society does not
seem to interest itself in these poor fellows are there
any warm hearted Jerseymen in the Island who would send
their wounded fellow countrymen a little fruit sometimes,
it would be very much appreciated".
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post
of Tuesday 19 January 1915
Death of Able Seaman James J Gale - Another
Victim of the Bulwark Disaster. We regret to learn that
Able Seaman Gale, who was one of the few rescued from
HMS Bulwark when she was accidentally blown up off Sheerness,
passed away yesterday morning at Chatham Hospital where
he had been since the unfortunate occurrence. Hopes
were at first entertained that he would survive his
terrible injuries but complications set in and though
everything possible was done by the doctors and every
care and attention given him, all proved unavailing.
To his widowed mother and the other members of his family
we offer our sincere sympathy.
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post
of Wednesday 20 January 1915
The Death of Able Seaman Gale. We received
the following letter from Mr J D Hamon this morning.
"I am so sorry and grieved to say I received a
letter this morning from Mrs Gale telling me her son
died yesterday. He will be buried tomorrow at 2pm with
full Naval Honours and I shall try and leave my business
and go to Chatham for the funeral. I am sending a wreath.
19 January 1915". We had received a telegram from
Mr Hamon yesterday sent after the despatch of this letter.
