Winterbourne, George



ROMANCE OF JUTLAND BATTLE -- MIDDIE'S LAST MESSAGE-"TELL FATHER WE'RE WINNING." A strange story was told at Westminster Police Court recently by a young man who gave the name of George Winterbourne, and declared that he was a survivor from H.M.S. Defence, which was sunk at the Battle of Jutland, but from which, according to tie official reports, there were no survivors. Winterbourne, who was charged with being a deserter from service, asserted that after the Defence sank he was in the water for hours, supported by an air belt, and was picked up unconscious by a collier, which afterwards landed him near Newcastle. Since then, he said, he had wandered about the country, living on money - some £20 - which he had in his belt at the time of the disaster. Mr. Horace Smith directed a police inspector to take Winterbourne to the Admiralty for his story to be investigated. When the inspector returned with the accused, he gave the Court further particulars. The man's memory, he said seemed to be defective, but he had given some corroborative details. He stated that he had been transferred to the Defence just before the Jutland fight, and that when the sea, after the ship had sunk, a midshipman with an arm blown off, gave his name and his last message "If you get through, Jack, tell father we are winning." The authorities ascertained by reference to the casualty list that there was a midshipman on board of the name given, by the defendant. They were so satisfied that they desired him to be sent to Portsmouth. Mr. Horace Smith made an order to this effect, and later in the day, Winterbourne, who appeared to be dazed, as if from shock, a certificate from Dr. Dyer, of Brixton Prison, being to that effect, was taken to Portsmouth by an officer.


 * 1) HMS Defence Crew List (Photographs)
 * 2) HMS Defence Crew List (updated in Real-time)