J.W. Thompson was a 186 GRT steam tug completed in 1909 by Dialogue Shipbuilders of Camden New Jersey. She left Cardiff for Kola Bay on 28 February 1917 and was not seen again.

There were no survivors

Jack Johnson was a 202 GRT steam trawler completed in 1919 by Hall, Russell & Co. for The Royal Navy as Charles Blight - a "naval trawler". After the war she sold to James Johnson of Scarborough and renamed Jack Johnson. She left Scarborough on 3 September 1920 and on the following day another fishing vessel in the vicinity Stratherrick heard an explosion. The vessel was not seen again and is presumed to have struck a mine.

There were no survivors

Jacona was a 2,969 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1889 by Laing for Rankin Gilmour as Saint Marnock. From 1899 she was owned by W.Thomson & Sons and renamed Jacona. She sank on 12 August 1915 after striking a mine approximately 25 nautical miles North-North-West of Troup Head.

Jaffa was a 1,594 GRT steam passenger/cargo ship completed in 1897 by J. Scott & Co. for Bailey & Leetham Ltd. From 1903 she was owned by Ellerman Wilson Line Ltd. She was sunk on 2 February 1918 by torpedo fired by German submarine UB-30 approximately 3 nautical miles East by South of the Owers light vessel. She was en route from Boulogne to Southampton in ballast.

Jane S was a "small fishing boat" of 12 GRT from Berwick. She was lost on 14 August 1917 after striking a mine laid by German submarine UC-42 approximately 11 nautical miles South-East of St. Abb's Head.

There were no survivors

Jane Williamson was a 197 GRT wooden brigantine sailing vessel completed in 1870 by H. & J. Williamson for R, Kearon. She was sunk by gunfire from German submarine UC-51 at position 50° 32' N, 05° 20' W - approximately 20 nautical miles North-North-East of St. Ives. She was en route from Liverpool to Cherbourg with a cargo of coal. The submarine also shelled the lifeboats and this is how the crew members lost their lives. An inquest was held and the jury returned an unanimous verdict of "wilful and diabolical murder".

Jersey was a 139 GRT steam trawler completed in 1895 by Cochrane & Cooper for Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co. Ltd. and registered in Hull (probably as H.270) and removed from the Register in 1915. She was lost to "enemy action" on 5 November 1915 approximately 16 nautical miles North-East by East of Spurn Head.

There were no survivors

Jessie was a 364 GRT compound-engined cargo ship completed in 1901 by S. McKnight & Co. Ltd. From 1911 she was owned by Shield Steamship Co. Ltd. for Wm.Rowland and managed by Walker & Bain. She was attacked by gunfire from German submarine UB-35 approximately 3 nautical miles North-East of Flamborough Head. She was en route from Calais to Middlesbrough in ballast. The ship was beached but was a total loss.

John Evelyn was a 72 GRT spritsail sailing barge completed in 1885 by Braby of Deptford for Vandervord of Southend, Essex. From 1907 she was owned by the London and Rochester Barge Co. Ltd. It appears that the vessel was damaged by a bomb dropped by Zeppelin airship L.13 that inflicted a signficant amount of damage on London on 8 September 1915. John Evelyn was in Millwall Dock at the time and was damaged, but survived as a "House Barge" - whatever that was. I have not idea why the dates of death of Mr.Bowles and Mr. Gladwell are different from one another and from the date of the air raid.

John H. Barry was a 3,083 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1899 by J. L. Thompson & Sons Ltd. for J.H.Barry & Co. She was sunk on 18 March 1918 by torpedo fired by German submarine UB-52 at position 38° 42' N, 05° 45' E - approximately 104 nautical miles North by West of Cape Bougaroni. She was en route from La Goulette to Barrow with a cargo of iron ore.

John Hardie was a 4,372 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1906 by Wm. Hamilton & Co. Ltd. for Corunna Sailing Ship Co. Ltd. From 1908 she was owned by Clutha Shipping Co. Ltd. and managed by J. Hardie & Co. She was captured on 6 September 1915 and sunk by gunfire from German submarine U-33 at position 42° 10' N, 11° 15' W - approximately 98 nautical miles West by South of Cape Finisterre. She was en route from Java to Glasgow with a cargo of sugar.

John M. Smart was a 113 GRT steam trawler completed in 1891 by Hepple & Co. for John Smart of North Shields. She was sunk on 12 December 1917 by gunfire from a German torpedo boat destroyer approximately 10 nautical miles East of the Tyne. The trawler Ranter was attacked in the same incident.