James Sayner died on 10th May of his injuries sustained when Halifax JB789 went through the roof of Portholme Mill where he was the night watchman. The plane struck the spire of St James Church and crashed through the junction of Portholme Road and Union Lane, through the roof of Portholme Mill and destroyed houses on both Portholme Road and Drive. The Mill caught fire. The accident resulted in the death of 5 members of the R.A.A.F., 2 R.A.F. and 8 civilians including James. James was born on 14th November, 1878 to William and Elizabeth of Hambleton. In the 1911 Census he was living with his parents in Hambleton and working as a Clerk to a Potato Merchant, probably a member of the Anson Family. He married Susannah C. Newson in 1919 and they had a son John William born on 6th July, 1921. James and his family were living in Chapel Street when the 1939 census was recorded.