GEORGE FREDERICK MINTER
Photograph courtesy of Susan Claydon
Born 1895, Trimley St. Martin, Suffolk.
Died: 30th December 1917; age 22; Drowned at Sea – from H.T. S.S. ‘Aragon’.
Residence: 82, Schreiber Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich; Age: 15 years & 6 months..
Date of Entry Therein: 16th August 1914.
Service: George had been in France for 2 years and 9 months, when he was wounded.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 8511
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment, 3rd Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star + Clasp.
Memorial Reference:
Alexandria,
Egypt.
Brother to ARTHUR HENRY MINTER.
CENSUS
1901 21, Parliament Road, Ipswich.
George was 5 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Frederick Minter, 32, a Bricklayer’s Labourer, born Stadbroke, Suffolk.
Ellen Minter (nee Jennings), 31, born Nacton, Suffolk.
Athur Henry Minter, 8, born Trimley St. Martin, Suffolk.
Ellen Sarah Minter, 7, born Trimley St. Martin.
George Frederick Minter, 5, born Trimley St. Martin.
William Thomas Minter, 4, born Ipswich.
1911 82, Schreiber Road, Ipswich.
George was 15 years old, a Caddie – Golf. He was living with his parents & siblings.
Frederick, 42, a Bricklayer’s Labourer.
Ellen, 41, a Charwomen – Domestic.
Ellen, 17, a Servant – Domestic.
William, 14, an Errand Boy.
Walter Frederick Minter, 10, born Ipswich.
Edith May Minter, 6, born Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to Frederick Minter – father.
AN IPSWICH WARRIOR FAMILY
The Minter family whose home is at 82, Schreiber Road Ipswich, is a burly, fighting family. The father, F. Minter, who is 42 years of age, is serving in France with the Royal Engineers. The names of the sons are:- 1. Arthur Henry Minter, leading seaman, lost on active service in the Mediterranean on March 1st last. Had seen nine years’ service. 2. Prvt. George Frederick Minter, 1st Norfolk Regiment, now in France. 3. William Thomas Minter, 3rd E.A. Howitzer Brigade, R.F.A. (T.T. 4. Walter Frederick Minter, aged 14 in the Scouts.
(SS) H.T. ‘ARGON’
Troops bound for Palestine arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on board the troop ship SS. Argon on December 30th, 1917, the ship was permitted to enter the harbour, but later was ordered back out to sea again. She anchored 8 miles outside the harbour without any protection from submarine attack, for which she was an easy target. The Aragon was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UC-34.
H.M.S Attack and The armed trawler HMT “Points Castle” came to the rescue. H.M.S Attack drew right alongside Aragon to take survivors aboard, H.M.S Attack was crowded with 300 to 400 survivors, 20 minutes after being hit the Aragon went down. A torpedo then struck HMS Attack amidships cutting her into two pieces. It is estimated that the SS Aragon had lost 600 men in the incident and H.M.S Attack lost 10 crew. Three Ipswich men were lost.
Norfolk Regiment, 3rd Battalion
George is also remembered on St. John the Baptist church memorial Ipswich.
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