Paymaster Cdr James Louis Hill German
(son of Chief Engineer James William German)
by Richard Taylor

James Louis Hill German joined the Royal Navy's paymaster branch in 1877, seeing active service in Gambia and South Africa. During WW1 he spent time at an advanced base at Dunkirk. He died in a nursing home at Southsea on 31 August 1924.

    He was awarded: Paymaster German's Medals
  • East & West Africa Medal, bar Gambia 1894 (Paymr, HMS Satellite)
  • Queen's South Africa Medal (Paymaster, HMS Niobe)
  • British War Medal (Paymaster Commander)
  • Victory Medal (Paymaster Commander)
  • Coronation Medal 1911 (Un-named as issued)

What follows is his personal biography, constructed mostly from his service records at the Public Record Office, although a number of other sources have been consulted.

  • November 1847 James William German (James L H German's father) is appointed 2nd class engineer in the Royal Navy
     
  • 4 August 1861 James L H German born at 4 Fort Street, Bermondsey, the son of James William German (now an RN Chief Engineer) and Jane (nee Hill). GRO ref: 1d 90
     
  • 7 August 1861 Birth is registered by James William German in the St Mary Magdalen
    sub-district of Bermondsey
     
  • 4 September 1861 James W German is appointed to wooden steam corvette HMS Orestes,
    which was broken up at Portsmouth five years later
     
  • 17 August 1875 German Snr retires from the Royal Navy after 15 years as a Chief Engineer
     
  • 15 January 1877 James German Jnr is appointed to HMS Duke of Wellington , then flagship
    at Portsmouth, as an assistant clerk
     
  • 26 June 1877 Posted to HMS Ruby in lieu of an assistant paymaster (Ruby was a composite steam corvette of 2,120 tons, armed with twelve 64pdrs. She was launched by Earle at Hull on 9 August 1876. Renamed C10 in December 1904 as a coal hulk. She was sold in February 1921)
     
  • 4 August 1878 Promoted to Clerk on 17th birthday. Has passed his examinations with
    a 1st Class grade
     
  • 1 July 1880 Paid off from HMS Ruby and assigned to HMS Himalaya as victualling officer from 2 July to 6 August. Returns to HMS Duke of Wellington to await next appointment.
     
  • 14 January 1881 To HMS Revenge
    (Revenge was a screw 2nd rate 91 armed with 34 8inch guns, one 68pdr
    and 56 x 32pdr. Launched at Pembroke Dock on 16 April 1859, she became a base ship in August 1872. She was serving in this capacity at Queenstown when German joined her. She was renamed Empress in 1890 and was sold in 1923. Himalaya was a 4,690-ton iron screw troopship)
     
  • 16 August 1881 Posted to the composite steam sloop HMS Sappho on the Pacific station
    (Sappho weighed 940 tons and carried two 7in guns and two 64pdr. She
    was launched by Wigram, Blackwall, on 20 November 1873 and was sold in December 1887 to Castle)
     
  • 4 August 1882 Promoted to Assistant Paymaster
    His service record shows that in 1894 he unsuccessfully sought to get
    counted as senior time his period of service in HMS Sappho from 3 October 1883 to 22 July 1884 when he performed the duties of paymaster in the absence of Paymr H F Woods, who was in hospital. Admiralty records state that he had been fulfilling duties of Paymaster with 'great credit'
     
  • 31 December 1884 Described as 'very zealous and attentive'
     
  • 31 December 1885 Now described as 'zealous and painstaking'. Has knowledge of
    Spanish
     
  • 19 May 1886 Posted to HMS Duncan, base ship at Sheerness/Chatham. She was
    renamed Pembroke in 1890
     
  • 26 May 1886 To HMS Duke of Wellington
     
  • 21 July 1886 To HMS Royal Adelaide, flag and depot at Devonport from 1860 to 1889
     
  • 27 November 1886 German applies to be allowed to qualify as an interpreter in French
     
  • 25 April 1887 On books of HMS Forward, but victualling officer of the troop and storeship HMS Humber from 25 April to 20 May 1887 (Forward was a composite steam gunboat of 455 tons, with two 64pdr and two 20pdr. She was built by Barrow and launched on 29 January 1877. Became a coal hunk in 1892 and was sold in 1904. Humber was an iron storeship of 1,640 tons, launched by Earle of Hull in1876 and bought for the Navy in 1878. She was in the Mediterranean 1889-95)
     
  • 31 December 1888 Stated in his annual report to have a 'slight' knowledge of French.
    Described as 'very correct and trustworthy; in every way worthy of
    confidence and strongly recommended'
     
  • 12 February 1889 Report confirms his 'slight' knowledge of French and records that he is
    a good photographer
     
  • 9 March 1891 Paid off from the Forward and allowed to return to England at own
    expense, 'finding own way'
     
  • 26 March 1891 Posted to the Duke of Wellington at Portsmouth Service record shows him as victualling officer for HMS Asia 6-8 July 1891, and handling a similar job with HMS Barrosa from 9 July to 26 August. In the latter ship he was in charge in the absence of its
    assistant paymaster
    (Asia was the flagship of the Admiral Superintendent at Portsmouth from about 1862 to 1905. Barrosa was a 1,580-ton third class cruiser which had been completed in 1890. She was at Portsmouth 1890-94)
     
  • 14 August 1891 To HMS Wye, a 1,370 ton iron storeship, on particular service
    (Wye was built by Orbourne Graham and launched at Sunderland in 1873.
    Sold in 1906)
     
  • January 1893 'Strongly recommended' by Lieut-Commr Chambre, of the Wye
     
  • 5 November 1893 Promoted to Paymaster
     
  • 15 November 1893 Marries Edith Shortt at St Jude's Church, Southsea
     
  • 6 December 1893 On half pay until 8 January 1894
     
  • 30 December 1893 Makes a will leaving all his estate to his wife, Edith St John Lesingham
    German, who is named as sole executrix. At the time, the Germans
    were living in Plymouth.
     
  • 9 January 1894 Posted to composite steam corvette HMS Satellite (The Satellite, 1,420 tons, was armed with two 6in guns and ten 5in. She was launched at Sheerness Dockyard on 13 August 1881 and became an RNVR drill ship in 1904. Sold on 21 October 1947 to J G Potts)
     
  • 21/22 Feb 1894 Satellite's log shows her at Las Palmas in Canaries, where she was
    preparing for sea from about 10pm on the 22nd. She cast off at about 7am
    on the 23rd, en route to St Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands
     
  • 22 February 1894 A naval brigade, commanded by Capt E H Gamble of HMS Raleigh,
    goes up the Gambia river to attack Fodeh Silah, a rebellious
    slave-raiding chief. The naval squadron from which the men are drawn is commanded by Rear-Adm Frederick George Denham Bedford, CB (It was decided that two columns should advance against the enemy. The smaller of these was led by Lt-Col A D Corbet, of the Royal Marines, who was later made a CB for the part he played in this expedition. He led a force of 50 Marines and 50 men of the West India Regiment, and a field gun. The Naval Who's Who 1917 states: 'He may be said to have held Fodi (sic) Silah in check pending the arrival of the West Indian troops. The serious reverse sustained by the naval brigade in the affair of Madin Creek jeopardised the lives of the whole British community, and but for the success of Colonel Corbet's force the consequences might have proved even more serious.) (After landing at Medina, Capt Gamble and the men in the larger column, which was accompanied by Rear-Adm Bedford marched to Birkama, but found it impossible to reach and so two stockaded villages were destroyed instead)
     
  • 23 February 1894 On its way back, Gamble's brigade of 200 men is ambushed on the beach
    where they had to wait for the tide to turn so that their boats could
    approach the shore. Two or three officers and 15 men are killed. Six officers and 40 men are wounded, Capt Gamble among them. Cdr C F G Sawle takes over from Gamble, earning a mention in despatches.
     
  • 27 February 1894 Satellite, still making her way fron Las Palmas to St Vincent, exercises
    her gun crews, including machine gunners
     
  • 28 February 1894 At about 10am, Satellite sights St Vincent on her port bow. She stops her
    engines at midday and at about 2pm the crew are paid their monthly
    money
     
  • 1 March 1894 Satellite begins coaling at 7.10am and at 8am takes on fresh stores. Coaling is completed at 10.40am and the ship proceeds on its way to Bathurst at 12.30pm
     
  • 2 March 1894 Soap and tobacco issued to ship's company
     
  • 4 March 1894 At Bathurst, the Satellite stops at 9.10am and picks up a pilot. Joins the
    flagship, HMS Raleigh, which is accompanied by the Alecto and
    Widgeon. HMS Magpie arrives at 1.45pm
     
  • 5 March 1894 Satellite's 'B' company is inspected, complete for landing at 12.45pm
    under command of a petty officer 1st class. 'A' company is landed at
    3.30pm for exercises under the command of Lieut B Holme-Sumner.

    At 1pm a sergeant and 15 marines are sent to the Alecto and an hour later
    one lieutenant (Sumner) and 25 seamen to the Widgeon. The Satellite also receives seven officers and 105 seamen from the Raleigh, as well as embarking a number of kroomen

    At 4.10pm the Satellite takes the admiral's barge in tow, casting off the
    barge at 5.25pm and then proceeding at full speed
     
  • 6 March 1894 Gunjar is bombarded by Rear-Adm Bedford's squadron, whose ships have
    provided the naval brigade. A strong body of natives assembles to resist a
    landing, but they are dispersed by gunfire The naval brigade and troops force Fodeh Silah to flee and all further resistance crumbles. Some time later the chief surrenders to French authorities in Senegal
     
  • 20 January 1896 German's East & West Africa Medal is delivered to him aboard the
    Satellite, 164 of whose officers and men are entitled to the award.
     
  • June 1897 German, still on the Satellite's books, is shown as victualling officer at  HMS Pembroke 13-14 June 1897 as an additional for service in HMS Isis, which was on manoeuvres. He is shown with HMS Wildfire 15 June to July 1897 (Pembroke was the Royal Naval base at Chatham; Wildfire the base at Sheerness; Isis was a second class cruiser launched in 1896)
     
  • 13 July 1897 German reverts to Satellite for paying off purposes until relieved by Assistant Paymr Matthews, who was closing the accounts of HMS Agincourt
     
  • 7 August 1897 To Pembroke I for closing of accounts and leave
     
  • 28 September 1897 On half pay until 8 November
     
  • 9 November 1897 To the 5,600-ton second class protected cruiser HMS Venus on the day on which she completed  (Venus was built by Fairfield of Govan and launched on 5 September
    1895. She served in the Mediterranean from 1897 to 1901)

     
  • Service record shows German as S.O. at Malta 4-18 March 1898
     
  • Shown on passage from 9 May 1898 and acting as S.O. at Malta 8 May to 14 June. Also victualling officer for HMS Rainbow 15-21 June. Subsequently returned to HMS Victory for leave (Rainbow was a second class cruiser of 1890. She had been on the China Station 1895-98 and was at Malta 1898-99)
     
  • 25 May 1898 Goes down with 'Mediterranean fever', described as 'beyond control'.
    Paid off from Venus
     
  • 22 June 1898 Suffering from debility, is admitted to hospital at Plymouth for a week. To be re-examined at Haslar hospital in three months' time
     
  • 1 September 1898 Medically examined and found unfit. To be re-examined on 29 September
     
  • 29 September 1898 Posted to HMS Victory as an additional for three months' full-pay sick leave from 23 June, in addition to seven days' service leave. Then on half pay until 3 January 1899
     
  • 4 January 1899 Posted to 5,750-ton second class cruiser HMS Arrogant, then with the
    Channel Squadron
    (Arrogant was built at Devonport Dockyard where she was launched on
    26 May 1896. After a varied career she was sold in 1923 to Hughes Bolckow and broken up at Blyth)
     
  • HMS Niobe 19 June 1899 To Diadem class first class protected cruiser HMS Niobe  (Niobe, 11,000 tons, was built by Vickers of Barrow where she was launched on 20 February 1897, completing December the following year. She was therefore still a very new ship when German joined her. She was serving with the Channel Fleet but was detached 1899-1900 for the Cape where she earned the battle honour 'South Africa'. She was sold in 1922 and broken up in Philadelphia)
     
  • 20 October 1899 Niobe sails for South Africa as part of the reinforcements requested by
    Rear Adm Sir Robert Harris in command at the Cape
     
  • 5 November 1899 German promoted to Staff Paymaster
     
  • 25 November 1899 Wm Laird Clowes in his history of the Royal Navy states that Niobe,
    which was commanded at this time by Capt Alfred Leigh Winslow, served in South Africa from this date until 23 August 1900
     
  • 4 December 1899 Niobe arrives at St Helena Bay to assist in the rescue of troops from
    the s.s. Ismore, which had run aground on St Columbine Point.

    A party from the shop landed the following day and took most of
    the troops - a squadron of the 10th Hussars plus two batteries of Royal Artillery and their baggage - to Transport No 39, the s.s. Columbian. Three officers and 22 men from various units were, however, embarked on the Niobe for passage to Table Bay
     
  • 6 December 1899 Niobe arrives at Table Bay and takes over the duties of guardship, also
    landing a small detachment at Capetown
     
  • 20 December 1899 Ship returns to Simons Bay for five days but after Christmas goes back
    to Table Bay
     
  • 5 January 1900 Sir Alfred Milner, High Commissioner in South Africa, makes an official
    visit to the ship. At the end of the month she makes a cruise to Port
    Nolloth and then returns to Simons Bay
     
  • 10 February 1900 Niobe arrives at Walfisch Bay and immediately lands a naval brigade
    to meet a Boer threat
     
  • 21 February 1900 The ship sails for Simons Bay, arriving on 24 February
     
  • 3 April 1900 Niobe, with £3,000 on board for the military authorities, leaves Simons
    Bay for St Helena, together with the s.s. Milwaukee carrying the first
    consignment of Boer prisoners, including Gen Cronje and his wife
     
  • 5 April 1900 Notice is posted on St Helena stating that in a few days the troopship
    Milwaukee with arrive Boer prisoners of war, escorted by the Niobe.
     
  • 15 April 1900 On her arrival at St Helena, Niobe assumes the duties of guardship
     
  • 23 August 1900 HMS Thetis arrives at St Helena to relieve Niobe. Later that day, the
    Niobe sails for Plymouth to rejoin the Channel Squadron
     
  • 16 March 1901 King Edward VII, at Portsmouth for the imminent departure of the Duke
    and Duchess of Cornwall on a colonial cruise in the Ophir, presents
    (according to the Times) Queen's South Africa Medals to officers and men of the Ophir and, one report stated, of the Niobe, which was to be one of the Ophir's escorts. (Medal roll, however, shows that German was sent his medal the following year)
     
  • 17 March 1901 Niobe and Diadem form escort for the Ophir which leaves Portsmouth at
    4.30pm. Niobe remains as one of the escorts as far as Gib. At one point
    the two cruisers keep station but at four miles from the Ophir, rather than four cables, while they 'practised Marconi telegraphy successfully' (The Times)
     
  • 18/19 March 1901 The night and following morning are very rough with a heavy swell in
    which the Ophir 'pitched horribly', the Times reports. 'The furniture and
    gear were all awash in the Niobe' The Niobe is ordered to proceed at full speed and open wireless communication with the Channel Fleet. She is in contact with the Arrogant and later the Majestic, flagship at Gibraltar
     
  • 20 March 1901 The Ophir and her cruiser escorts arrive at Gibraltar, staying for two days.
    On 25 March they are at Malta for a two-day visit, moving on to Port Said
    for 30 March
     
  • On 1 April they touch Suez, arriving briefly at Aden before sailing on to Colombo for 12 April. From Colombo the Ophir is escorted to Singapore by ships of the East Indies Squadron
     
  • 7 February 1902 German on passage to UK, going on to half pay from 11 February until
    3 March
     
  • 14 February 1902 German issued with his Queen's South Africa Medal
     
  • 4 March 1902 To the Admiral class battleship HMS Benbow, then filling the role of coastguard ship at Greenock (Benbow, 10,600 tons, was built by Thames Iron Works who launched her on 15 June 1885. She was completed in June 1888 and her main armament consisted of two 163in breech loaders)
     
  • 23 May 1903 To HMS Vivid I where he is an additional from 1 March 1906
     
  • October Navy List states he is in charge of victualling, clothing and implement accounts; service record shows him as O in C 9 October 1903 (prob. Officer in Charge of Accounts)
     
  • 3 March 1906 On the books of HMS President for victualling and meat courses
     
  • 24 March 1906 Returns to HMS Vivid as an additional. On meat course from 28 March
     
  • March 1906 Described by Capt Fisher as 'careful and reliable'
     
  • 31 March 1906 Posted to HMS Mars, then being commissioned into the Reserve at
    Portsmouth. In October she went to the Channel Squadron and in March
    1907 was transferred to Devonport Division Home Fleet (Mars was a Majestic class battleship of 14,900 tons, with a main armament of four 12in guns. She was sold in 1921)
     
  • March 1907 Capt Tottenham, in a report on German, describes him as 'very careful and correct'
     
  • 25 May 1907 German is posted to HMS Prince George, another Majestic class battleship
    which since March had been flagship of the Portsmouth Division of the Home Fleet
    (Prince George was launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 22 August 1895 and completed in November 1896. She saw much action in the Dardanelles in 1915. Finished up as a depot ship and was sold in 1921)
     
  • 3 August 1907 Prince George was one of the ships which took part in King Edward's
    review of the Home Fleet
     
  • 3 September 1907 On half pay until 7 October
     
  • 8 October 1907 Posted to HMS Excellent for service in HMS Grafton (Excellent was the gunnery training establishment at Whale Island, Portsmouth. Grafton served as tender and gunnery training ship from 1905 to 1913. She was an Edgar class first class protected cruiser of 7,350
    tons, built by Thames Iron Works and launched in 1892)


    ADM196/80 records the following: ' Deficiency of provisions of
    Grafton to extent of £112. Incurred TL's severe displeasure by his want of supervision. Two-thirds of amount to be recovered from him by installments
     
  • 30 January 1910 On half pay until 7 February
     
  • HMS London 8 February 1910 To the battleship HMS London, flagship of the Rear-Admiral Atlantic (The 14,420-ton London was launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on  21 September 1899 and completed in June 1902. She was armed with four 12in guns and had a complement between 714 and 733)
     
  • August 1910 Capt Chatfield describes German as 'capable and trusty'
     
  • 24 June 1911 London takes part in the Coronation review of the fleet at Spithead, taking
    her place between the Formidable and the Dominion
     
  • 5 March 1912 To HMS Wildfire at Sheerness
     
  • 15 March 1912 Service in the Scottish Coastguard district; borne on the books of
    HMS President
     
  • August 1914 Navy shows him still with the Scottish Coastguard on the outbreak of war, based at the district headquarters at 54 Queen Street, Edinburgh

    ADM196/80 includes the following comment for this period:
    Weak physically. Dreads responsibility. Rec'd for retired list. Capt Sinclair
     
  • December 1912 Now described as being extremely zealous with good judgment
     
  • 7 March 1915 Placed on sick list suffering from after effects of influenza. Discharged
    from sick list 13 April
     
  • 17 March 1915 To Victory II to await next appointment. (In 1915 Victory II was the training depot for the Royal Naval Division at Crystal Palace)
     
  • 2 June 1915 To Pembroke I at Chatham for duty with WO141 until required for duty
    elsewhere. Lent as victualling officer for HMS Wildfire 9-29 September
    1915 for reconstruction of accounts
     
  • May 1916 Reported on German states: Has worked well... Willing to assist in other ways
     
  • 5 March 1917 Considered as available for service away from Chatham when occasion arises
     
  • 27 March 1917 Appointed to President II. Service record shows him for duty at 'advanced base, Dunkirk'
     
  • 30 April 1917 To Pembroke I at Chatham
     
  • 30 May 1917 To HMS Actaeon, the torpedo school at Sheerness, where she also acted as
    depot ship for TBDs
     
  • 19 February 1919 Ill with influenza
     
  • 3 April 1919 German on sick list at Chatham Hospital until 9 April
     
  • 9 April 1919 Placed on retired list suffering from aggravated arteriosclerosis. Remained
    on Actaeon's books until 12 May 1919
     
  • 13 May 1919 Awarded £470 a year to be subsequently increased to £600 a year
     
  • 23 June 1919 Retired pay is cancelled when disability award made by the Ministry of
    Pensions

    Address shown as Borstal Road, Rochester, and later 35 Whitwell Road,
    Southsea, close to the seafront and the boating lake
     
  • 3 August 1919 War gratuity of £120 paid
     
  • 31 August 1924 Dies of (i) arteriosclerosis and (ii) nephritis (inflammation of kidneys),
    toxaemia, heart failure and pyaemia (a form of blood poisoning). Burial
    registers show that he died at Normanton (Nursing Home), Lennox Road South, Southsea.

    Death is registered in the Portsmouth district at the age of 63
     (GRO ref: 2b 541)
     
  • 2 September 1924 Death notice in the Portsmouth Evening News states that German had died in a nursing home after a week's illness
     
  • 3 September 1924 Funeral is held at St Margaret's Church, Eastney, followed by burial at
    Highland Road Cemetery (Plot I, Row 16, Grave 27)
     
  • 5 September 1924 Hampshire Telegraph carries a small news item under the heading 'Death
    of Capt German'

    This was an account of a meeting of Portsmouth Camera Club who had
    been told of the death of German, who was their assistant honorary secretary. The president, Dr Bertram Stone, proposed a vote of condolence to the widow and daughter. The report confirmed that the funeral had taken place at Highland Road Cemetery on Wednesday, 3 September
     
  • 17 October 1924 Probate granted to Edith German. Assets total £3,071
     
  • 9 July 1951 German's widow, Edith, is buried in her husband's grave at Highland Road Cemetery. She had died aged 79 at 35 Whitwell Road
     
  • 9 August 1967 The Germans' daughter, Edith Marjorie Hill German, is buried in the family grave. She had died at the age of 67 at Coldeast Hospital, Salisbury, Hampshire
     

(c) 2003

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