Name
George Edward Timms
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
George Timms was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Abbots Langley in Autumn 1918, Spring 1919 and Autumn 1919. He was initially identified from the Absent Voter Records and was not recorded elsewhere in the Abbots Langley Parish records. In the Absent Voter Records George was listed serving with the Royal Navy aboard HMS “Valiant” and his address was given at 53 Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley.
George was born on 21st March 1899 at Watford. He was one of eight children born to Frederick and Rosina Timms. His elder brother Frederick (junior) also served in the Great War. At the time of the 1901 Census the family lived at 122 St Albans Road, Watford, and Frederick worked as a Cowman on a farm. By the time of the 1911 Census George had moved from the family home and was listed as an Inmate at The Midland Truant’s Industrial School, Beacon Street, Lichfield.
George enlisted with the Royal Navy and first served on 19th January 1915 aboard HMS “Powerful”, a Training Ship for Boys at Devonport. When he joined he gave his occupation as a Box Maker. Boys normally served a period of training over a period of eighteen months, and then were sent to a ship. Many of the young boys were not well educated, and George was not yet 16 when he joined up. The Royal Navy did it’s best to educate the boys in the initial eighteen months of service and gave them a basic grounding in geography, history and mathematics. Life was hard and strict and there was little food. On 9th March 1915 George was transferred to HMS “Vivid 1”, a shore base at Plymouth and was promoted to the rank Boy 1 on 12th April. On 15th April 1915 George was transferred to HMS “Essex”, a cruiser assigned to escorting Atlantic convoys, but by 3rd May was back at HMS “Vivid 1” where he remained until 12th January 1917. On 13th January he was transferred to HMS “Valiant” and on 21stJanuary he was promoted to the rank Ordinary Seaman. HMS “Valiant”, a battleship of the Grand Fleet, took part in the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916, and survived the engagement with the German High Seas Fleet. On 21st January 1917 George was promoted to the rank of Ordinary Seaman, and on 6th June 1917 he attained the rank of Able Seaman.
George served aboard HMS “Valiant” until 15th January 1920 and continued to serve with the Royal Navy throughout the 1920’s. On 21st March 1917 George had signed on for a 12 years period of service, however, he was invalided out of the Navy on 16th February 1927.
George survived the War as did his brother in law Arthur Bennett, who had married his elder sister Florence. However his brother Frederick was killed in an accident aboard HMS “Princess Irene” when an explosion destroyed the ship whilst it was stationed at Sheerness, Kent, on 27th May 1915.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
