| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
George Popple was born in Beverley in Nov 1895, the son of John William Popple, a traction engine driver for the County Council from Lincolnshire, and Fanny (nee Horner). He attended Minster Boys’ School from 1902 until 1908.
In Aug 1912, before he was 17, he joined the Royal Navy as a boy entrant and was assigned to HMS Vivid I, a shore-based training unit at Devonport. At the time of his 18th birthday, 2nd Nov 1913, he was serving aboard HMS Warrior and he signed on to serve for 12 years from that date and became an Ordinary Seaman. He continued to serve on the Warrior after the declaration of war and took part in the Battle of Jutland. George was then transferred back to Vivid I and then to HMS Resolution.
In 1918 when the Admiralty developed a daring plan to block the coastal ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge, a call for volunteers to undertake a dangerous mission went out through the British Grand Fleet. A force of nearly 1800 was raised and given special training. George was one of the six men from his ship to volunteer, two of whom were killed. George and one other, were injured. George took part in the attack at Zeebrugge, launched from HMS Vindictive and, although both of the raids failed to totally achieve their objectives, the exceptional bravery of the men involved was recognised, George was mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette in Jul 1918.
In 1919 George married Rose Gray in Beverley Minster. Rose was daughter of Thomas Abel Gray and his wife Harriet. He completed his 12 years’ service in 1925, and in 1927 their son, Walter, was born. They were living at the home of Rose’s parents in Flemingate and George was employed by Richard Hodgson & Sons as a labourer, where he had to handle hides and skins which came from all over the world, as a result of which in Feb 1931, he contracted anthrax and after only a few days’ illness died in Hull Royal Infirmary. He was aged just 35. The jury at the inquest into his death returned a verdict of “Accidental Death”. As a result of George’s inquest a question was raised in the House of Commons regarding Home Office Regulations in respect to tanneries.
Rose and Walter continued to live with Rose’s parents and she eventually remarried in 1949
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |