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.
