Lieut. James Winstanley-Pochin R.N.
The Scotsman - Friday 21 October 1904
A SPORTSMAN DROWNED. —Information was received yesterday at Lerwick by the county police that Lieutenant Pochin , R.N., divisional officer of Coastguard for Orkney and Shetland , residing at Lerwick , who had been out shooting at Loch of Girlsta , about fourteen miles from Lerwick, had disappeared , and the circumstances seemed to indicate that the unfortunate officer had lost his life , Lieutenant Pochin , who frequently went out on shooting excursions to country districts, had been staying at Girlsta, and on Wednesday morning he went out alone for a day’s shooting along the shore of the loch , which is of considerable extent . He did not return, and, on a search being made, his clothes and gun, and also a dog he was accompanied, were found by the side of the loch. Of the Lieutenant there was no trace. The police proceeded to the place yesterday, along with a search party from Fort-Charlotte and the chief officer of the drill station, and operations were commenced by dragging the loch. It is surmised that Lieutenant Pochin had entered the loch either to bathe or to recover a bird he had shot and been caught in the grass and drowned. In the evening intelligence was received that the body had been recovered in the loch.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Saturday 22 October 1904
THE LERWICK DROWNING ACCIDENT. The report received on Thursday evening that the body of Lieutenant Pochin, divisional officer of the Coastguards at Lerwick, who disappeared from Girlsta, near Lerwick on Wednesday, had been found turned out to be incorrect. Operations are proceeding in dragging the loch where is supposed he had been drowned, but up to the present no trace of the body been discovered.
Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands - Wednesday 26 October 1904
COASTGUARD OFFICER DROWNED.—information was received on Thursday at Lerwick by the county police that Lieutenant James W. Pochin, R.N., divisional officer of Coastguard for Orkney and Shetland, residing at Lerwick, who had been out shooting at Loch of Girlsta, about fourteen miles from Lerwick. had disappeared, and the circumstances seemed to indicate that the unfortunate officer had lost his life. Lieutenant Pochin, who frequently went out on shooting excursions to country districts, had been staying at Girlsta. and on Wednesday morning he went out alone for a day's shooting along the shores of the loch, which is of considerable extent. He did not return, and on a search being made, his clothes and gun, also a dog by which he was accompanied, were found by the side of the loch. Of the Lieutenant there was no trace. The police proceeded to the place on Thursday, along with a search party front Fort Charlotte and the Chief Officer of the drill station, and operations were commenced by dragging the lush. It is surmised that Lieutenant Pochin had entered the loch either to bathe or to recover a bird he had shot, been caught in the grass and drowned. In the evening intelligence was received that the body had been recovered in the loch. Lieut. Pochin was one of the senior lieutenants in the service, having been promoted to the rank in December 1884. He was appointed Divisional Inspecting Officer for Orkney and Shetland in November 1901. He had previously been in command of H.M.S. Speedwell.
Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 05 November 1904
NAVAL LIEUTENANTS SAD DEATH. Lieutenant J. Winstanley-Pochin, R.N., left Lerwick, Shetland, where he was in command of the Coastguard, on the 19th ult, for a shooting trip. It is feared that some bird he shot fell into Lake Gilsta, and that was drowned in trying to get it out, as he only had a pointer with him. His clothes, dog. and gun were found by the water side, but so far his body has not been recovered. He was the eldest surviving son of the late Captain B.G. Pochin. R.N., of Bramston Hall, Leicestershire, and heir to the Winstanley estates, the property of his mother. He was engaged to cousin, Miss Oakley-Walker, of Wokingham, and the marriage was to have taken place on the termination of his Shetland appointment.
Army and Navy Gazette - Saturday 05 November 1904
Obituary. NAVY. Lieut. James Winstanley-Pochin left Lerwick, Shetland, where he was in command of the Coastguard Division, on the 19th ult., for a shooting trip to Lake Girlsta, where he was drowned. He was 42 years of age, and was the eldest surviving son of the late Com. R. G. Pochin, R.N., of Bramston Hall, Leicestershire, and joined the Service in January, 1875. He served Midshipman of the Shah during the engagement with the Peruvian rebel turret ship Huascar off Ylo in May, 1877, and in 1884 was promoted to Lieutenant. Whilst serving Lieutenant on the Garnet in the East Indies in 1888 he was awarded the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society for jumping overboard in Manda Bay and saving the life of a man slave.
A SPORTSMAN DROWNED. —Information was received yesterday at Lerwick by the county police that Lieutenant Pochin , R.N., divisional officer of Coastguard for Orkney and Shetland , residing at Lerwick , who had been out shooting at Loch of Girlsta , about fourteen miles from Lerwick, had disappeared , and the circumstances seemed to indicate that the unfortunate officer had lost his life , Lieutenant Pochin , who frequently went out on shooting excursions to country districts, had been staying at Girlsta, and on Wednesday morning he went out alone for a day’s shooting along the shore of the loch , which is of considerable extent . He did not return, and, on a search being made, his clothes and gun, and also a dog he was accompanied, were found by the side of the loch. Of the Lieutenant there was no trace. The police proceeded to the place yesterday, along with a search party from Fort-Charlotte and the chief officer of the drill station, and operations were commenced by dragging the loch. It is surmised that Lieutenant Pochin had entered the loch either to bathe or to recover a bird he had shot and been caught in the grass and drowned. In the evening intelligence was received that the body had been recovered in the loch.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Saturday 22 October 1904
THE LERWICK DROWNING ACCIDENT. The report received on Thursday evening that the body of Lieutenant Pochin, divisional officer of the Coastguards at Lerwick, who disappeared from Girlsta, near Lerwick on Wednesday, had been found turned out to be incorrect. Operations are proceeding in dragging the loch where is supposed he had been drowned, but up to the present no trace of the body been discovered.
Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands - Wednesday 26 October 1904
COASTGUARD OFFICER DROWNED.—information was received on Thursday at Lerwick by the county police that Lieutenant James W. Pochin, R.N., divisional officer of Coastguard for Orkney and Shetland, residing at Lerwick, who had been out shooting at Loch of Girlsta, about fourteen miles from Lerwick. had disappeared, and the circumstances seemed to indicate that the unfortunate officer had lost his life. Lieutenant Pochin, who frequently went out on shooting excursions to country districts, had been staying at Girlsta. and on Wednesday morning he went out alone for a day's shooting along the shores of the loch, which is of considerable extent. He did not return, and on a search being made, his clothes and gun, also a dog by which he was accompanied, were found by the side of the loch. Of the Lieutenant there was no trace. The police proceeded to the place on Thursday, along with a search party front Fort Charlotte and the Chief Officer of the drill station, and operations were commenced by dragging the lush. It is surmised that Lieutenant Pochin had entered the loch either to bathe or to recover a bird he had shot, been caught in the grass and drowned. In the evening intelligence was received that the body had been recovered in the loch. Lieut. Pochin was one of the senior lieutenants in the service, having been promoted to the rank in December 1884. He was appointed Divisional Inspecting Officer for Orkney and Shetland in November 1901. He had previously been in command of H.M.S. Speedwell.
Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 05 November 1904
NAVAL LIEUTENANTS SAD DEATH. Lieutenant J. Winstanley-Pochin, R.N., left Lerwick, Shetland, where he was in command of the Coastguard, on the 19th ult, for a shooting trip. It is feared that some bird he shot fell into Lake Gilsta, and that was drowned in trying to get it out, as he only had a pointer with him. His clothes, dog. and gun were found by the water side, but so far his body has not been recovered. He was the eldest surviving son of the late Captain B.G. Pochin. R.N., of Bramston Hall, Leicestershire, and heir to the Winstanley estates, the property of his mother. He was engaged to cousin, Miss Oakley-Walker, of Wokingham, and the marriage was to have taken place on the termination of his Shetland appointment.
Army and Navy Gazette - Saturday 05 November 1904
Obituary. NAVY. Lieut. James Winstanley-Pochin left Lerwick, Shetland, where he was in command of the Coastguard Division, on the 19th ult., for a shooting trip to Lake Girlsta, where he was drowned. He was 42 years of age, and was the eldest surviving son of the late Com. R. G. Pochin, R.N., of Bramston Hall, Leicestershire, and joined the Service in January, 1875. He served Midshipman of the Shah during the engagement with the Peruvian rebel turret ship Huascar off Ylo in May, 1877, and in 1884 was promoted to Lieutenant. Whilst serving Lieutenant on the Garnet in the East Indies in 1888 he was awarded the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society for jumping overboard in Manda Bay and saving the life of a man slave.
Silver Royal Humane Society Medal
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Orcadian - Saturday 10 December 1904
FOUND DROWNED.--The body of Lieutenant Pochin, divisional officer at Fort Charlotte, Lerwick, who mysteriously disappeared on 19th October last, was found on Saturday in the Loch of Girlsta. Deceased had gone out to Girlsta, about 12 miles from Lerwick, for a few days' fishing. He left his lodgings on Wednesday morning, and next day his clothes. gun, and dog were found lying at the margin of the loch. It was supposed at the time that he had entered the loch for the purpose of swimming after a bird he had shot Lieutenant Pochin, who was unmarried, had been stationed at Lerwick as divisional officer for about three years.
Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 17 December 1904
The body of Lieutenant Pochin, R.N., who was drowned the 19th October, was recovered from Lake Girlsta. Shetland, Saturday, the 3rd inst. The body was brought to the south for burial at Bearwood, Berks, where the funeral took place on Thursday.
FOUND DROWNED.--The body of Lieutenant Pochin, divisional officer at Fort Charlotte, Lerwick, who mysteriously disappeared on 19th October last, was found on Saturday in the Loch of Girlsta. Deceased had gone out to Girlsta, about 12 miles from Lerwick, for a few days' fishing. He left his lodgings on Wednesday morning, and next day his clothes. gun, and dog were found lying at the margin of the loch. It was supposed at the time that he had entered the loch for the purpose of swimming after a bird he had shot Lieutenant Pochin, who was unmarried, had been stationed at Lerwick as divisional officer for about three years.
Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 17 December 1904
The body of Lieutenant Pochin, R.N., who was drowned the 19th October, was recovered from Lake Girlsta. Shetland, Saturday, the 3rd inst. The body was brought to the south for burial at Bearwood, Berks, where the funeral took place on Thursday.
St Catherine's Church, Bearwood, Berkshire.
Lt James Winstanley Pochin was buried at St Catherine’s Church on 15th December 1904 (age 42)
Headstone and transcription was kindly supplied by Derek ManningTreasurer – Winnersh PCC
Shetland Times - Saturday 29 July 1905
Monument to the Late Lieut. Pochin, R.N.—There was erected at the side of the Girlsta Loch last week a very handsome monument in memory of the tragic end of the late Lieut. Pochin. The inscription on the stone is—“ Near this spot Lieut. J.W. Pochin, R.N., H.M.C.G., Lerwick, was drowned, 19th October, 1904.
Shetland Times - Saturday 29 July 1905
Monument to the Late Lieut. Pochin, R.N.—There was erected at the side of the Girlsta Loch last week a very handsome monument in memory of the tragic end of the late Lieut. Pochin. The inscription on the stone is—“ Near this spot Lieut. J.W. Pochin, R.N., H.M.C.G., Lerwick, was drowned, 19th October, 1904.
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Memorial to Lt Pochin R.N. next to Girlsta Loch (Photos: Kevin Thompson)
Memorial window to Lt Pochin R.N. St Magnus Episcopal Church, Lerwick (Photos: Kevin Thompson) .
