BORN HULL 12/10/1894. SECOND SON OF JOHN ROWLAND (1867-1957) AND ALICE LAMBERT (1864-1941), OF 7 CHURCH MOUNT, SUTTON. HIS FATHER WAS MERCHANT SEAMAN, BORN IN NORFOLK. HIS MOTHER WAS BORN IN LEEDS AND WORKED AS A LICENCED VICTUALLER . HE HAD TWO BROTHERS, JOHN AND SYDNEY AND A SISTER, HILDA LAMBERT. THE FAMILY LIVED AT VICTORIA TAVERN, WATERHOUSE LANE (1911 CENSUS) AND AT THE LOCKWOOD ARMS, LOCKWWOOD STREET, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). GEORGE WORKED AS AN ERRAND LAD FOR A LOCAL GROCER, BEFORE ENLISTING.
HE JOINED THE ROYAL NAVY, ON 28/05/1913. HE SERVED AS STOKER, FIRST CLASS, ON THE DESTROYER, HMS “ARDENT”, WHICH WAS SUNK AT THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND, ON 01/06/1916 (78 MEN LOST AND ONLY 2 SURVIVORS). HE WAS AGED 22 AND HAD BEEN HOME FOR A SHORT LEAVE, FOUR WEEKS BEFORE HIS DEATH.
HIS NAME IS LISTED ON THE PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, HAMPSHIRE, UK, AND HULL’S LOCKWOOD STREET MEMORIAL. HIS OLDER BROTHER, JOHN ALSO SERVED AT SEA AND MARRIED FLORENCE McPHERSON IN 1916.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ardent_(1913)
The Lockwood Arms, Kingston upon Hull, City of Kingston upon Hull (britishlistedbuildings.co.uk)
