Officers' Steward George Atkinson was in the Royal Navy, served on HMS Talbot and died of illness while at sea. His father was a coachman in Market Overton who had been killed in a hunting accident leaving his widow Ann to bring up their son. George was born in Market Overton on Christmas Eve 1883, and until enlisting in the Navy in November 1915, was a butler with Admiral and Lady Colville, at Admiralty House in Portsmouth. On 17 June 1918, he became Officers Steward (1st Class) on HMS Talbot, and was on patrol around the coast of German East Africa for some months. He was returning home when he was taken ill with cerebral malaria, and died when near Port Said on 1 April 1919. He was buried at sea with full Naval Honours the following day. The Chaplain of the ship, writing to his mother on behalf of the Captain, said: "His naturally cheerful disposition gained him many friends, and his loss was deeply felt by his messmates, the Captain and officers." The Medical Officer of the vessel also wrote: "He was greatly missed by all who had come in contact with him, and who appreciated his cheerful charm of manner." He is remembered on Panel 32 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and also on the war memorial at St Peter and St Paul church in Market Overton.