SS119013 Stoker George Henry Still, HMS Assistance

The 1901 Census notes George Henry Still, aged nine months, living at North Common, Chailey.  At the time the census was taken, he was the youngest of eight children.  His father, Albert Still, aged 37 is noted as an Ordinary Agricultural Labourer born at Hurspierpoint, Sussex.  His mother, Fanny Still, aged 35, had been born at Henfield, Sussex.  George’s brothers and sisters, in age order, are noted as: Alice Still (15, born at Cowfold, Sussex and working as a laundry maid) and Albert Still (13, born at Lindfield, Sussex and working as a telegraph boy).  The family would appear to have moved to Chailey just after Albert junior had been born (around 1887) because the remaining children are all recorded as having been born there.  They were: Alfred Still (aged 12), Arthur Still (aged nine), Edward Still (aged seven), Ernest Still (aged four), Daisy Maud Still (aged three) and finally George Henry whose date of birth must have been around June 1900. 

In September 1918, Chailey Parish Magazine notes Stoker G Still is situated at the Royal Navy Barracks.  In December 1918 it notes that he is serving aboard HMS Assistance as a stoker and this information is repeated monthly until the final entry in July 1919.  HMS Assistance was a Repair and Laundry ship launched on 22nd December 1900 and eventually scrapped in 1937. George died in 1943.

  

Four of George's five brothers, Albert Still, Arthur Still, Edward Still and Ernest Still also served their King and Country during the First World War.

My thanks to Maggie Griffiths for sending me the photo of George, taken whilst he was serving on HMS Assistance.