Able Seaman James Bickerstaff (D/JX 650391) served in the Royal Navy during World War Two. Born on 18th December 1924, he was the son of George Bickerstaff and Margaret Bickerstaff of Castlereagh, Belfast, Co. Down.
He died on 20th March 1945 aged 20 years old on board HMS Lapwing on a run to Murmansk. The British-built Sloop went down on Arctic Convoy JW-65 after coming under attack from U-968 under the command of Otto Westphalen.
Imperial War Museum Photo: FL 9971 (Part of the Ministry of Defence Foxhill Collection of Ship Photographs). HMS Lapwing at sea in 1944. The converted Black Swan Sloop saw action on D-Day 6th June 1944 and served throughout the war in Arctic Convoys until its sinking on 20th March 1945.
A T5 homing torpedo struck HMS Lapwing amidships breaking the vessel in two. The stern remained afloat for around 20 minutes before going down around 6 miles off Cape Kilden in the Kola Inlet. A total of 168 of the 229 on board died when the vessel went under leaving 61 survivors. HMS Savage rescued those crew members and brought them to Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
The crew of HMS Lapwing had already seen action on D-Day, 6th June 1944 as the vessel transported United States Army troops to Omaha Beach.
James Bickerstaff has no known grave. His name is on Panel 93, Column 3 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon. His name is also on a family memorial in Carnmoney Cemetery, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.