Dawlish World War One Project

George John Pessell's Naval record shows that he joined the Royal Navy on the 17 April, 1902, as an assistant cook.

He was based in the R N Barracks, Devonport (.H.M.S.VIVID) in 1904 when he married Prudence Dowell (1881-1956) in Plymouth.

George was rated Leading Cook's Mate in January 1908.

In the 1911 census returns, George John Pessell is living in Naval Barrack accommodation at Portland Dorset, and was posted to H.M.S.BELLEROPHON (18,000 ton British Dreadnought), from February 1911 to April 1913.

In March 1914 he joined H.M.S.DUKE OF EDINBURGH (13,500 ton cruiser, built in 1903) and in November 1914 he was rated Chief Ship's Cook.

His Naval record shows that he died at home on 16 April, 1915, from a ruptured aneurysm in the Aorta. His last known address is 3 Ainslie Terrace, Camels Head, Devonport.

George John Pessell was one of twins born to Walter C Pessell (1849-1916), a town porter, and Mary Stone Prideaux (1855-1938).

George's twin was named after his father, Walter Charles Pessell, but a family history shows that he died in 1881, aged two. They were living at Beach Street, Dawlish, and their father worked for the Great Western Railway as a town porter, following in his father's footsteps.
By 1891 George has lost his twin, but there is a further son, Thomas (1885-1953) and the family was living at that period at Warren Road, Dawlish, with father-in-law, John Prideaux (1821-). George took up the occupation of a baker.