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Monday 26 March 2018

Letter from George

George Titheridge 1892 - 1916


Portsmouth Naval Memorial 

On May 31st 1916 HMS Queen Mary sank at the Battle of Jutland with the loss of over 1260 lives. Among those who died was 24 year old George Titheridge, son of William Titheridge and Sarah Earwaker of East Meon. On the hundred year anniversary of his death I wrote an article in memory of George, which can be read here.

George’s great niece, Penny Smith, contacted me to share some photos of her treasured possessions relating to George, a letter, a postcard, his medals and will. She has kindly given her permission for me to share these pictures here on the blog.

George Titheridge’s Family 


George was one of five children born to William Titheridge and Sarah Earwaker. George was born in the village of East Meon Hampshire on 25 February 1892 and christened on 3 April 1892. His siblings were William born 1890, Rhoda Winifred Alice born 1894, Alice May born in 1900 and Alfred Charles born in 1909.

In the 1901 census George was living with his parents and siblings at Tigwell Cottages in East Meon. By the 1911 census George had left home and was working as a baker, residing at 7 Gloucester Street, Southsea, while his parents and siblings were living. at Crofton Manor Cottages in Stubbington. In 1912 when George was 20 his father died leaving Sarah with two young children to support, Alice aged 12 and Alfred aged 3. By 1916 widowed Sarah had moved back to East Meon and was living at Stoney Lands.

George joins the Navy


In 1914, December four months after Britain declared war on Germany, George joined the Royal Navy, joining up for twelve years. His Naval record shows that first he served on HMS Victory I from 4 December 1914 until 28 April 1915, first as an acting Cook’s mate then being promoted to a Cook’s Mate. On the 29th April 1915 he was transferred to HMS Queen Mary.

HMS Queen Mary


HMS Queen Mary was a battlecruiser, built between 1911 and 1913, the last battleship to be built before World War I. In January to February 1915, she was under refit at Portsmouth before returning to sea. It was around this time that George transferred to HMS Queen Mary. She was in the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron and commanded by Cecil Irby Prowse.

In May 1916 she participated in the Battle of Jutland, the largest fleet action of the war. In the early part of the battle on 31st May she was hit twice by the German battlecruiser Derfflinger. Her magazines exploded shortly afterwards, sinking the ship. Of 1289 crew there were only 20 survivors.

George was just 24 years old when he died. George is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, East Meon War Memorial and Fernhurst War Memorial.

In 1991 the wreck of the Queen Mary was discovered in pieces on the floor of the North Sea. Queen Mary is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 as it is the grave of 1,266 officers and men.

Treasured Mementos


My thanks to Penny Smith for permission to share these photographs below relating to George

George’s Letter home


At the end of April 1915, just before he went to sea on HMS Queen Mary, George sent a letter home to his widowed Mum, Sarah. I have transcribed it and below is a picture of the original. Note the beautiful hand writing and his kindness to his widowed mother saying she could take whatever she needed so she didn't run short.

6 A Mess

My Dear Mother

Just a line to let you no I am getting on alright. I am going to sea this week on Queen Mary Battle ship still don’t worry about me I shall be alright it might be some time before I see you again about six month I expect. I think I am going to the North Sea or Turkey I don’t no yet it’s a pity I couldn’t get up last week I am sending the money I got on me will you put it by till I returns should any thing happen to me I leave everything to you but I am not going away with that fear its my duty and I must go should anything happen while I am way if you are short of money use mine don’t be afraid I don’t mind I don’t want you to go short of anything while I have got money. I don’t expect I shall be going before the end of the week so write back I shall be writing again before I go and I will give you my address.

From your ever loving Son George

You can take 6/- shilling for yourself out of it and help yourself if you want any more I don’t care it you use the lot rather them see you go short. I hope Bill Jack and Rose is alright.


George’s Postcard home 


This is the post card of the Queen Mary sent home to his sister Rhoda at some time between April 1915 and May 1916


George’s medals 


George was awarded the following three war medals pictured below:
1914-15 Star awarded to all who served in any theatre of war against Germany between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915
Victory Medal
British War Medal awarded to those who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918


George’s will


George left his money to his mother, a sum of £65 18s 10d. Attached to the probate form was a note forbidding any money to be given to the Germans and their allies.



Saturday 10 March 2018

Titheridge surname in the Poor Law Union Gazette

Alverstoke Parish Church 

The Poor Laws


In 1834 the government reformed the poor law system, joining parishes into Poor Law Unions, an early local government unit. These Poor Law Unions took over responsibility for administering poor relief and existed in England from 1834 to 1930. Each Poor Law Union was run by an elected Board of Guardians. Every Union had its own workhouse and poor relief was intended only to be given in the workhouse. The Poor laws aimed to discourage the poor from seeking relief by forcing them to enter the workhouse; if a person didn’t want to enter the workhouse they did not really need relief. There were exceptions were made for the old, sick, and widows with dependent children.

The Poor Law Gazette


Poor relief was expensive to the unions and if a family were in need of poor relief because the breadwinner had deserted the family then the unions wanted to find the absconder. To help find the deserters the paper “The Poor Law Union Gazette” was established in 1842 on the recommendation of the Poor Law Commissioners. It gave information on people who were being sought because they have deserted their families. It was published weekly and distributed to other unions throughout the country and sold for two pence. Each Union published a list of people they were seeking. Information was encouraged by a substantial reward. A typical entry would list the name of the person being sought, who they had deserted and where they might have gone.

We have found two Titheridge Family members who appear in The Poor Law Gazette, both listed under the parish of Alverstoke, Hampshire.


James Titheridge of Alverstoke


In the Poor Law Union Gazette on 17th August 1878 the following entry appear for James Titheridge, from Alverstoke. It reads:

“James Titheridge, lately residing on the Little Beach, Gosport. 41 Years of age, 5 feet 11 inches high, thinly built, hair light brown, eyes blue, complexion fair, visage long, thin light whiskers, and has a peculiar look with right eye: Bracelet, half moon and star in blue ink on right wrist, scald mark on one of shin bones; dressed in black felt hat, black cloth walking coat, Bedford cord trowsers and vest, lace-up boots, and mauve and black necktie. He is a Cooper by trade, and has a brother working in Deptford Dockyard.
One Pound Reward; information to the Clerk or to Mr Geo. Pearman, Relieving Officer, April 1878.

James was obviously elusive as they continued to publish James’ name until 3 June 1882, although the description did change to

“James A Titheridge, a cooper by trade, about 44 years of age, nearly 6 feet high, of slight build, light brown hair, blue eyes, fair complexion and thin light whiskers when he ran away. A bracelet mark in blue ink on right wrist. Has relations in Deptford Dockyard and Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, Gosport. Wife and six children.”

We have been able to identify James as one of nine children born in 1838 to Henry Titheridge and Agnes Taylor in Alverstoke. James married Eliza Williams in Portsmouth, St Thomas in July 1866 and they had seven children, two of whom died young. James and Eliza were living together on the 1871 census at 29 King Street Alverstoke with children Georgina Rhoda Agnes and James Henry. In the 1881 census Eliza is living on her own at 3 Lord Nelson Passage, Alverstoke with five children Rhoda 13, Henry 11, George 8, Eliza 6 and Florence 5 (the two eldest children are now known by their second names).  James had an older brother, Henry, who left Alverstoke for London in 1860. On the 1871 census Henry was working a cooper in Deptford, hence James’ connection to Deptford Dockyard.

There is no further record of James that we have identified beyond the 1871 census. We cannot find him on the 1881 census and we can find no record of his death.

Richard Titheridge of Alverstoke


The second record we found in The Poor Law Gazette was on 5 December 1885 under the Parish of Alverstoke and it reads

“Richard Tetheridge was formerly a cooper in Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, about 50 years of age, fresh complexion, proportionately built. Wife and 5 children. This man may now be working at Deptford Dockyard in an assumed name.”
One pound Reward:. Information to Mr C Pearman, Alverstoke; or to Superintendent Catchlove, Police Station, Gosport who hold the warrant”.

This appeared in the Gazette from 5 December 1885 until 4th September 1886.

Unfortunately we don’t know if he was found. We also don’t know who Richard was. There is a possibility that he is the cousin and the brother in law of James above but we cannot say with certainty. The age, occupation and number of children do not match but we cannot find another Richard Titheridge to fit the bill. So the identity of Richard remains a mystery.


If you can add any more information to this story please let us know.