Leading Stoker George Thomas Goldsmith Usher
| Date of Birth | 14 April 1887 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 27 |
| Date of Death | 26 November 1914 |
| Service Number | 226977 |
| Military Service | Royal Navy HMS Bulwark |
| Merton Address | |
| Local Memorial | Mitcham War Memorial |
Additional Information
George Thomas Goldsmith Usher was the only son of George and Adelaide Emma Usher. He was born in Battersea on the 14th April 1887. His parents George had married Adelaide Emma on 0ctober 30th 1879. George Thomas was baptized on the 6th April 1890 at St George’s Church in Battersea.
School records show that he attended in 1892 at Sleaford Street, by then the family resided at 22 Tweed Street in Battersea
The 1901 Census reveals that 41 year old George was a standby engineer, his 47 year old wife Adelaide was employed as a laundress. At the time of the Census, the couple had a total of 3 children. Their eldest daughter 18 year old Cecilia was paralysed. Their 13 year old son also called George was now employed as guard and their youngest daughter 10 year old Lucy was still at school. The Usher family resided at 15 Beck Road, West Ham in Hammersmith.
George Thomas enlisted in the Royal Navy at Portsmouth on the 14th April 1903 at the age of 15. Service record reveal that he was only 5ft 3ins tall with brown eyes and dark hair. He first served on HMS Impregnable.
In the third quarter of 1910, 25 year old George Thomas married Katherine Hines in the third quarter of 1910 at Portsmouth. The 1911 Census reveals that the couple had been married for a year. 30 year old Katherine was a lady of private means. The couple shared their home in Portsmouth with two, 19 year old stokers who were also serving in the Royal Navy.
The 1911 Census reveals that his father, George and his wife Adelaide, their daughter Cecilia or Cissie were now residing at 10 Grove Terrace, London Road in Mitcham also residing with them was their 0ne year granddaughter Violet Girlsworthy.
By 1914, George Thomas was serving on board HMS Bulwark when the ship was lost due to a powerful internal explosion on the 26th November 1914. The explosion occurred west of Sheerness in the River Medway Estuary. The bodies of those lost were never recovered for burial.