GEORGE LAWRENCE LINDSAY
There is only one direct connection between George Lawrence and Portsmouth and that comes in the 1911 census. Even then he doesn't appear in person, but his wife and son do.
Prior to his marriage to Rose Clare (maiden name unknown), George Lawrence had spent most of his life, after leaving Ireland where he was born, in the Royal Navy. As such he would have known Portsmouth as well as any sailor but he didn't begin living there until around 1908.
The 1911 census records Rose Clare at 3 Fyning Street, Landport with a varied household including her mother Elizabeth Harriett Kent, step-son Charles Alma Rowe and her son James Charles Lindsay. All apart from Elizabeth who came from Portsmouth were born at St. Martins on Jersey. George Lawrence was also found in Portsmouth but in his case he was aboard HMS Superb in Portsmouth Harbour.
George Lawrence must have left the navy soon after the 1911 census as the entry in the National Roll tells that he enlisted in 1914 at the outbreak of the Great War which can be assumed to mean he was called from the reserve. He was posted to HMS Good Hope which in November 1914 was part of the British South American Squadron tracking a German Squadron under Admiral Graf von Spee. At the Battle of Coronel Good Hope was hit by several salvos fired from the Scharnhorst and was then rocked by a large explosion which caused her to sink with the loss of her entire crew, including George Lindsay.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) list George Lawrence Lindsay, Chief Stoker (176607), Royal Navy, HMS Good Hope, died 01/11/1914. Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 3). Son of James and Mary Lindsay, of Ireland; husband of Rosey Lindsay, of 3, Fyning St., Landport, Portsmouth.
George Lindsay is also remembered on the Cenotaph in Guildhall Square. He is listed in the 'National Roll of the Great War' Section X, p139.
Tim Backhouse
March 2015