Name
George Edward Pinnock
19 October 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/05/1916
17
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Ordinary Seaman
J/31811
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Black Prince."
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
16
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Little Gaddesden Village Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Little Gaddesden, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour (2018 Revision), Little Gaddesden, Not on the Berkhamsted memorial
Pre War
George Edward Pinnock was born in Twickenham, London on 19 October 1898, the eldest son of Edward and Ruth Pinnock.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 23 Fourth Cross Road, Twickenham, where his father was working as a Gardener-Domestic. They had moved to Little Gaddesden in 1903 when his father became Head Gardener at Little Gaddesden House, the home of the Honourable Alfred Talbot. They were living at The Gardens, Little Gaddesden House, Berkhamsted, Herts at the time of 1911 Census.
George and his younger brother Arthur joined the newly formed Little Gaddesden Scout Troop at its first meeting on 26 October 1911. In November 1912 the Scout diary recorded that George had "left the Scouts for Sea Training at Liscard [Wallsey, Lancs] and gave him three cheers. Everyone was sorry to lose him from the Troop and all the Scouts will watch his naval career with interest."
Wartime Service
He went to Liscard for Sea Training, aged 14 in November 1912. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Sailor on 11th June 1914 and served as a Boy Sailor, 2nd class, aboard the Boys' Training Ship HMS Powerful at Devonport. On 3 October 1914 he was promoted to Boy Sailor, 1st Class and served on board HMS Black Prince from 8th January 1915. On 19th April 1916, aged 17½, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman and had already signed up for 12 years’ Naval Service from his 18th Birthday but on 31st May 1916, at the Battle of Jutland, HMS Black Prince was sunk with all hands.
During the night, HMS Black Prince became separated from her sister ships of the First Cruiser Squadron and, in searching for them, stumbled across the entire German battle line between 750 and 12,000 yards away but did not initially realise she was facing German battleships. Although she did manage to turn away and launch torpedoes, she was sunk with the loss of 857 officers and men.
He was the youngest man from Little Gaddesden to die during the First World War. His body was not recovered for burial and his name is commemorated on the Chatham
Naval Memorial.
Additional Information
George’s younger brother Arthur Pinnock, (J69610 Royal Navy), survived the First World War and served again during the Second World War. He is also named on the Roll of Honour in Great Gaddesden.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, hemelatwar.org., littlegaddesdenchurch.org.uk
