Henry James Jukes

(Courtesy: Brian Ticehurst / Gillian Holloway, UK)

Henry James Jukes was born in Wincanton, Somerset, England on 31 December 1873. He was the son of Henry Joseph Jukes (b. 1851), an agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Jane Godwin (b. 1855). His parents, both natives of Somerset, had married in early 1873.

Henry, who was better known as James or "our Jim", was one of seven children, his siblings being: Catherine Mary  (b. 1876), Edward (b. 1879), Lily (b. 1886), Mable (b. 1888), Frances (b. 1892) and Bessie (b. 1897).

He first appears on the 1881 census whilst living at Elm Bottom Road, Motcombe, Dorset, the family apparently having just moved there recently from Somerset. The 1891 census shows the family again living in Somerset, now at Burns Lane in Marston Bigott. James was by now, like his father described as an agricultural labourer. His family later moved to Hampshire around 1899.

James may have gone to sea shortly after and would be absent from the 1901 census; his family were by then living at Allington Lane in West End, Southampton and his father was described as a Mill Carter. Absent again from the 1911 census, James' family were by now living at Moor Green in West End, Southampton, his father now described as a market gardener.

James signed-on to the Titanic as a Greaser in Southampton on 6 April. He stated that his previous ship was the Oceanic. His wages were £6, 10s per month and he gave his address as Moor Green in West End.

Jukes died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. He had reportedly been preparing for marriage but the identity of his fiancée is unknown.

A memorial to James Jukes was unveiled in the early 2000s at the West End Museum and Heritage Centre, Southampton. The memorial also remembers another West End Resident, Sir Arthur Rostron of the Carpathia.

His parents continued to reside in Southampton. His mother died in 1932 and his father in 1933.