George William Price
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
GEORGE WILLIAM PRICE’s father - Joseph George Price - was born in Euston Square London in about 1872 he was the son of a wheelwright. In 1881 census we can see that Joseph George Price is living with his mother Elizabeth and father Joseph and younger siblings in Southwell. In the census of 1891 Joseph George Price and his mum, dad and siblings have moved to East Stoke. Joseph George Price married Sarah Ann Price (nee Spick) at All Saints church in Elston on 12th July 1894. At some point between the census 1891 and 1901 they moved to East Stoke. Sarah Ann Spick was born in 1869 in Elston. The census of 1871 records that Sarah and her parents were still living in Elston. Sarah Ann Spick’s father – Robert Spick was originally from Rolleston and her mother Ann Spick (nee Bell) was from Elston. Robert Spick and Ann Bell married at All Saints church Elston on 19 Oct 1854. In the census of 1881 Sarah Ann Spick aged 12 is still living at home with her parents and 2 younger sisters – Lucy 7 years and Annie 3 years. In the census of 1891 Sarah Ann Spick (now aged 22) is employed as a servant on a farm in Brant Broughton, Lincolnshire. Our GEORGE WILLIAM PRICE was born in East Stoke on 1st Dec 1896 and baptised at St Oswald’s church on 21 March 1897. In the census of 1901 we find George W Price aged 4 living with his parents and elder sister Ellen aged 5 in East Stoke his father is described as a joiner wheelwright. Tragedy strikes the family when in 1903 George’s mum dies suddenly. Sarah Ann Price was buried on the 24th November 1903 at St Oswald’s East Stoke. The census of 1911 has George aged 15 and employed as a ‘Butchers Boy’ living in Morton near Gainsborough with his father Joseph George Price his dads new companion Annie Glossop (described as Joseph’s sister) and 2 younger siblings Elsie Price aged 5 years and Joseph Price aged 2 years. In the census of 1911 interestingly, George William Price’s paternal grandparents are landlord and landlady at The Chequers Inn in Elston.
George joined the Royal Navy on 30th August 1912, when he was 16 years of age, he gave his date of birth and stated he worked as an indoor servant. He began his naval career at the shore training establishment of HMS Ganges; he served on a number of ships and on his 18th birthday 1st December 1914 he signed on with the Navy for 12 years. He commenced his service in HMS Queen Mary on 16th September 1913. He died when he ship was sunk on 31st May 1916 at the battle of Jutland. His name is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. Information and photos courtesy of Richard Hallam
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)
