George Shiplee

A Second Hand, George died on 23rd February 1916 at the age of 16.

George was born at Lowestoft, a son of George Edward and Mary Shiplee.  

In 1901 his family lived at 6 Fir Lane, Lowestoft, and by 1911 at 5 Sterry's Cottages, London Road, Pakefield.

Eventually his mother lived at 2 The Prairie, Lowestoft, before moving to Beccles and then Welling, Kent. 

George's brother Gordon served in the Royal Naval Reserve, on H.M.S. Majestic, and died of wounds in 1915

During the First World War George served as the Cook on the Sailing Trawler 'Guide' of Lowestoft. George, and his father also named George, the Second Hand on the 'Guide', were supposed drowned in the loss of the 'Guide' on 23 February 1916. 

The Guide left Lowestoft intending to fish in an area thirty miles south-east of Lowestoft and was seen on both 16 and 17 of February. The Guide was due to return on 22 February. The Skipper of the 'Little Boys', fishing twenty-five miles off Southwold reported seeing wreckage including debris bearing the name Guide. It was assumed that the Guide was lost, with all crew, and may have struck a mine.