George Lamkin - Cliffe History

 

George Robert Lamkin

 

 

 

Born at Eastling (near Faversham) Kent to George Robert Lamkin and Annie. George was the eldest of six children: five boys and one girl.

 

The family moved from Eastling sometime between 1898 – 1901 to Aylesford and then again in 1906 to Higham.

 

George’s father worked as a farm labourer and waggoner and George followed in his father’s footsteps.

 

According to his naval record George was a blue eyed lad of fresh complexion and auburn hair standing at 5’ 9” in height. He signed up on the 27^th May 1914 for a 12 year enrolment.

 

His first assignment, after enrolment, was to be stationed at the Royal Navy Air Station at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey where he was a Stoker 1^st Class until the 28^th October 1914.

After initial training his first ship was the ‘C’ class destroyer the HMS Recruit which was part of the ‘Nore Local Defence Flotilla’ whose duties included anti-submarine and counter mining patrols in the Thames Estuary.

 

On the 1^st May, whilst patrolling with its sister ship, the HMS Brazen, off the Thames Estuary the Recruit was attacked by the German submarine UB-6. She was struck by a single torpedo which broke the Recruit in two and it sank almost immediately with the loss of 39 men, 4 officers: 22 crewmen were rescued. She was one of 14 ships to be sunk by the German UB-6.

H.M.S. Recruit

 

George Robert Lamkin was one of the crewmen who lost their lives on that day. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.