Geoffrey Gordon Kitchin
- Family History
- Military History
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Geoffrey was the son of the Reverend Walter Kitchin the vicar of Podington Bedfordshire and his wife Dorothy Gordon Kitchen. he was the brother of Harold Robinson, Agnes Mary and Beatrice Ellen Kitchin. In 1911 Geoffrey was a student cadet at The Incorporated Thames Nautical Training College HMS Worcester moored at Greenhithe in Kent. His family was still living at the vicarage Podington. His effects of £114 13 shillings were left to his father Reverend Walter Kitchin (Probate 1/4/1920 London).
In 1909 he became a cadet at HMS Worcester a training ship. On 10th August 1912 he became a midshipman and by the 15th January 1916 had been promoted to Acting Sub Lieutenant. On the outbreak of war he joined the Royal Naval Reserve. He was first appointed to H.M.S. Donegal, and later promoted to Sub Lieutenant in HMS Queen Mary in Admiral Beatty's squadron. HMS Queen Mary was the last battle cruiser built by the Royal Navy before World War I. She participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1914. As part of the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron she attempted to intercept a German force that bombarded the North Sea coast of England in December 1914, but was unsuccessful. She was refitting in early 1915 and missed the Battle of Dogger Bank in January. At Jutland on May 31st 1916 she was hit twice by the German battle cruiser Derfflinger during the early part of the battle. Her magazines exploded shortly afterwards, sinking the ship. 1,266 crewmen were lost with eighteen survivors picked up by the destroyers HMS Laurel, HMS Petard, and HMS Tipperary, and two by the Germans. (Wikipedia)
The following is an extract from 'The Cuthbertian ' dated June 1916: Sub.-Lieutenant Geoffrey Gordon Kitchin came to us in September, 1909, but after two terms proceeded to the Worcester Training Ship, where he won the King's Gold Medal for general excellence. He joined the Merchant Marine, and on the outbreak of war joined the Naval Reserve; he was first posted to H.M.S. Donegal, and later rose to the position of Sub.-Lieutenant on the Queen Mary, in Admiral Beatty's squadron. Everyone now knows· the glorious minutes during which the Queen Mary withstood the brunt of the German Fleet, and her glorious end with her crew. His name is also commemorated on the Podington war memorial in Bedfordshire and a plaque commemorating him is inside the church of St Mary the Virgin at Podington. The inscription reads, 'To the loved memory of Geoffrey Gordon Kitchin, Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Navy, killed in action off the coast of Jutland May 31st 1916, aged 20 years and 9 months. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'
