George Lace
Epithet: Sailor in the Royal Naval Reserve
Record type: First World War Biographies
Town / Village residence: Castletown
Biography: George Lace was born in Douglas, but for many years worked in Liverpool as a Dock Gateman. He was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve, and was called up on the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. He was killed on 19 April 1917, when his ship SS Star of Freedom struck a mine and sank. His body was brought ashore at Penzance, where he was buried with naval honours. This was the third occasion that Lace had been shipwrecked by enemy action, and the previous year he had been recovered from the sea at Scarborough, unconscious through exposure. When he died he left a widow and four young children at Castletown. (Image ref: PG/13743/51).
Gender: Male
George Lace was born in Douglas (circa) 1882. He became a member of the Royal Navy Resrve and as such was called up at the beginning of hostilities in August 1914. He served on the steam trawlers which had been requisitioned in order to perform mine clearing. Prior to 1917 he had twice been shipwrecked as a result of enemy action. On the first occasion six of his shipmates were lost, whilst on the second occasion he was saved from the sea in a state of unconsciousness off Scarborough by a party of Sea Scouts. Together with his family George Lace had lived in Liverpool for many years where he was employed as a Dock Gateman. His wife, Ada, and four young childred returned to the Island in June 1916, taking up residence in Queen Street, Castletown. After a preiod of home leave he returned to duty on April 16th, 1917, joining the steam trawler HMT Star of Freedom. Only three days later, on April 19th, HMT Star of Freedom was struck by a mine whilst sweeping off Cornwall. The body of Geo - Paul Quine Report this