George Edward Shiplee

A Second Hand, George died on 23rd February 1916 at the age of 49.

George was born at Southwold. He was baptised at Saint Edmund's Church, Southwold, on 4 March 1866, a son of George and Mary Shiplee. In 1871 his family lived at North Green, Southwold, and by 1881 were living at Southwold Road, Wrentham. 

George became a fisherman. 

George married Mary Louise Hammett, of Wrentham, in 1894. By 1901 their home was at 6 Fir Lane, Lowestoft, and by 1911 at 5 Sterry's Cottages, London Road, Pakefield. The 1901 Census shows George as the Third Hand on the ketch 'Trial' and the 1911 Census shows George as an inmate at Lowestoft Hospital. 

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

George's son 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 Second Hand on the Sailing Trawler 'Guide' of Lowestoft. George, and his son also named George, the Cook 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.