BORN HULL 1901. SON OF JOHN DAVID & SUSAN ELIZABETH SIMKINS. EDUCATED AT BOULEVARD SCHOOL & HULL TECHNICAL COLLEGE. LOST ON THE VOYAGE FROM HULL TO GOTHENBURG. HE HAD BEEN AT SEA FOR TWO YEARS AND TWICE TORPEDOED DURING THE WAR. LISTED IN THE HULL MERCHANT NAVY ROH. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON THE 16TH JANUARY 1919, WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPH. * HIS NAME IS RECORDED ON ALL SAINTS CHURCH MEMORIAL, HESSLE.
The GITANO was posted missing in January 1919, lost with all 28 hands, presumed mined after passing Flamborough Head on 20/12/1918. The master was engaged chiefly in the general trades to the Baltic and had been running regularly and continuously throughout the Great war. The usual route to Gothenburg is due north-east from the Humber Roads, so she would normally be well out to sea when passing Flamborough Head..
Wreckage reported washed up at Tvedestrand, 30 miles NE of Chistians and, Norway.
The officers and crew of the GITANO were:- W. J. Decent, Master, Regent House, Ings Road, Hull. – J. W. Barron, chief officer, Sulby, Ings Road, Hull. – J. J. Glenton, Second officer, 51 Gloucester Street, Hull. – F. C. Wilson, Boatswain, 159 Durham Street, Hull. – J. Hedgcock, Chief Engineer, 24 Clumber Street, Hull. – C. A. Kay, Second Engineer, 22 Camden Street, Hull. – E. Hatfield, Donkeyman, 95 Manchester Street, Hull. – R. Rippon, steward, 65 Exmouth Street, Hull. – P. H. Robinson, assistant steward, Adderbury Grove, Beverley Road, Hull. – A. J. Parker, Wireless Operator, Docking, Kings Lynn. – E. Cresswell, Seaman Gunner, Woodlands, Doncaster. – H. Hardy, Seaman Gunner, Glenburg Cottage, Gubberwick, Lerwick. – T . W. Cook, Seaman Gunner, Albion street, Rowledge, Sussex. – R. Simpkins, Cadet, Westbourne Villas, Hessle. – G. G. Barnes, Cadet, 171 Maldas Road, Colchester. – And twelve seamen and firemen of foreign nationality.
