MATTHEWS George

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for navy casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.

George Matthews was the son of John Albert and Ellen Matthews of Parkes Passage, Stourport.  Born at Stourport on 10th March 1889 he joined the Royal Navy on the 6th March 1908, for five years with seven years as a reservist.  He served on Pembroke (Chatham barracks), Minotaur and Duncan (a flagship in the Mediterranean), visiting Malta, Valetta, China and many other stations.  He transferred to Royal Fleet Reserve at Chatham on 2nd March 1913 having completed five years service.  While working at Ayr for Messrs. Vale & Sons of Stourport, he was called up on the 6th August 1914 and joined HMS Formidable on the 31st August.

Sources for additional information: Kidderminster Times 9th January 1915 and Kidderminster Shuttle 11th December 1915, reported with photo.

HMS Formidable was the first British battleship to be sunk in the First World War.  In the early hours of 1st January 1915 she was on exercises in the English Channel 20 miles off Start Point, Devon when she was hit at around 02.20 hours by a torpedo fired from a German submarine.  A second torpedo struck the stricken ship around 45 minutes later. Increasing winds, bad weather and heavy seas caused the loss of several lifeboats and H.M.S Formidable sank in less than two hours with the loss of 35 officers and 512 men.

Source for additional information:
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_formidable.htm

George Matthews has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Chatham Naval Memorial.