George Henry Studd

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Ocean Plough, George died on 27th of August 1916 at the age of 35.

George was born at Kessingland on 19 November 1880, a son of George and Mary Ann Studd. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 27 February 1881 and his family lived at The Street, Kessingland. By 1911 their home was at 4 Providence Place, London Road, Kessingland. 

On 22 November 1904 George married Ella Eliza Knivett at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Mutford. They lived at High Street, Kessingland, and in 1915 their address was Zulu Cottages, Kessingland. In 1911 George was a net-stower on the trawler Launch Out, LT344, at Penzance. 

George joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 7 May 1915 and served on the trawler Silver King. From 1 November 1915 he served on the trawler Ocean Plough. On several occasions the Ocean Plough attempted to sink enemy submarines by ramming them. 

On 27 August 1916 the Ocean Plough struck a mine, off Lowestoft. Five of the crew, including George, were killed and one later died from his wounds.  

George’s brother William died in 1914 in the loss of the drifter Fraternal.