The Tyrone man who gave his life in the fight against human slavery

The United Kingdom enacted the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 that came into force on the 1st of August, 1834 and which banned human slavery in the British Empire with the exception of possessions of the East India Company that took until the passage of the Indian Slavery Act, 1843.

Passing the laws was one thing, enforcing it was another taking many years to finally end the evil and barbaric trade.  That role of enforcement at sea fell to the Royal Navy for which the fight against human slavery cost lives – including that of a young County Tyrone sailor James Purdon.  I am so proud of great great great Uncle James for his service and the action he took to help end slavery, this is his life story.

James Purdon was born on the 25th July, 1862.  The son of James and Esther Purdon from Urney outside Strabane, County Tyrone.  James Purdon would join the Royal Navy on the 14th September, 1878 aged just 16 under service number 106769. Commencing his training first as a signal boy.  On the 25th July, 1880 his 18th birthday he signed a Continuous Service Engagement for a term of 10 years.  He progressed in his Royal Navy career to Ordinary Signalman, then Signalman and Leading Signalman, serving on different Royal Navy ships. He would join HMS Turquoise on the 20th May, 1884 as part of anti-slavery patrols in the Indian Ocean.

The Royal Navy Corvette HMS Turquoise was launched 150 years ago on the 22nd April, 1876.  It was an Emerald-class composite screw 2,120-ton warship that featured an iron frame with teak cladding and had a complement of 230 officers and ratings.  The ship first saw action in the War of the Pacific, reporting the sinking of the Chilean corvette Esmeralda at the Battle of Iquique on the 21st of May, 1879.

In 1884 HMS Turquoise would move to anti-slavery patrols.  Between 1884 and 1885, the Turquoise captured five slave ships, freeing thousands of men, women, and children.

These missions were very dangerous – crews faced deadly boarding actions, armed resistance and disease.  

Sadly James Purdon aged just 22 would be killed fighting to end the East African slave trade at Aden on the 3rd June, 1885.  He would be buried at sea with full Royal Navy honours.

James Purdon is remembered at the family graveyard at Urney.  On the grave stone that commemorates his mother Esther Purdon, her seven children who died young – and her son James, who died on board HMS Turquoise at Aden on 3rd June 1885.  At the bottom of the grave stone are the words: “They are not dead but sleepeth.”

Lest We Forget

Stevan Patterson, Castlederg Co. Tyrone.