Born Hull 1862. Ships Master. His wife Nellie, lived Ings Road, Hull and this address.
“The GITANO was in command of Captain Decent and a crew of 27, and left Hull on December 20th. She should of reached her destination in four days. She has not been heard of since passing Flamborough Head on the evening of the same day. At the request of the owners, Admiralty vessels have made search without result for wreckage. It is feared she has struck a floating German mine, and foundered. German mines are described as still dangerous after they have broken adrift and are floating about. This is not so with British mines. Captain Decent was one of the best known masters of the line, and has been with the company many years. He has been running regularly and continuously throughout the war. and been engaged chiefly in the general trades to the Baltic and Liverpool to Norway. He is a Hull man, and his wife died about 8 months ago. The chief engineer, J. Hedgcock is the son of the former Master of the old ZOB???O. One of the two cadets, R. Simpkins, who lived at Hessle, left the JUNO last voyage to join the GITANO.”
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 Glouchester 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.”
