Name
George Douglas Jephson
18 January 1876
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/02/1916
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Commander
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Dartmouth"
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NICE (CAUCADE) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
83
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
St Peter's Church Memorial, Ayot St Peter,
St Peter's Church Roll of Honour, Ayot St Peter,
Ayot St Lawrence Memorial
Pre War
George Douglas Jephson was born on 18 January 1876 at what is now the Old Rectory in Ayot St Peter, Herts, the son of the Rev Canon Henry Jephson and Jane S Jephson of Ayot St Peter, and was baptised there on 19 March 1876.
The family were living at The Rectory, Ayot St Peter on the 1881 and 1891 Censuses. George joined the Royal Navy as a naval cadet on 15 January 1890 at the age of 14 and trained at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. and was promoted to Lieutenant on 30 June 1898. His record shows he 'had good judgement' and was 'very hardworking and loyal'. He was appointed Lieutenant on the cruiser Niobe, based at Gibraltar, then promoted to Commander on 31 December 1901. By the 1911 Census he was serving on board HMS Challenger in the Australian station, based at Sydney. and later in the Persian Gulf.
Wartime Service
George was already serving with the Royal Navy at the outbreak of war and was Commander on HMS Dartmouth, a light cruiser of the RN Mediterranean fleet which was engaged at the Dardenelles in 1915.
On 12 July 1915 he was declared unfit for active service and sent to Haslar Hospital, Gosport for treatment (Beriberi). He was discharged and given 'unemployed time in order to obtain the benefit of treatment in a health resort with a warm climate'. He became seriously ill and was admitted to Cimiez Convalescent Home, France on 1 January 1916 where he later died. He is buried in the Communal Cemetery in Nice, France.
Additional Information
Also awarded Coronation Star 1902 and Naval General Service Medal 1909 – 1920. Medals issued to his sister Miss M G Jephson.
Probate of his estate was granted to Rev William Vincent, clerk, on 29 August 1916 in London. Estate value: £4450 5s 11d.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Brenda Palmer
www.ayotstpeter.com
