James was born on the 26th June 1858 in Fore Street Kingsand,he joined the Royal Navy on the 14th May 1873 progressing through the ranks to become a Gunner. He had an eventful Naval Career finishing in 1910. He married Eliza Chapple on the 9th July 1893 at Rame. They had a good marraige James surviving Eliza dying in 1925 at Cawsand. His father John Rowe and grandfather Michael were also in the Navy as was his brother John. He didnt see any major action during his service but he was involved in anti slavery patrols on Arab and on Grafton he was in China during the early stages of the Boxer Rebellion. His Parents were John Rowe and Ann Moreman