George Cann
Chief Petty Officer
More details on this person can be found in the Victorian Navy Certificates of Service This is a very large pdf file of 109 mb and takes 13 minutes to download with a 1.5 mbps internet connection.
died 30-1-1916
source:
Victorian Navy Monument, Williamstown Cemetery
Erected by the Officers, Petty Officers and Men of the Permanent Naval Force of Victoria
In Memory of their Deceased Comrades
Large Monument surmounted by Large Anchor
Received a Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in 1902 - Long Service & Good Conduct Medals to the Permanent Members of the Royal Australian Navy 1902 to 1956, A.O. Chaffey, West Launceston, Tasmania.
OBITUARY.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER G. CANN.
A well-known instructor of the naval cadets will be missing from the drill room in the person of Chief Petty Officer George Cann, of the V.I.S., who had for some 47 years been connected with both the Imperial and Commonwealth arm of the naval service. For some six months he had been in ill-health, the result of an accident, and died at his home, Osborne street, on Sunday. He was a native of Chudleigh, Devonshire, and was 62 years of age. For sometime he had charge of the torpedo boat Countess of Hopetoun. In the Imperial service he had been attached at various times to the men-o'-war Cambridge, Vernon and Sapphire. He was a very conscientious officer and of unassuming disposition. At the commencement of the war he was injured through a collision of two boats in the bay.
The remains were interred on Tuesday afternoon in the local necropolis. Some 150 naval cadets, old shipmates and private mourners attended. The coffin was borne on a gun carriage covered with the Union Jack. Chief Instructor Crocker was in charge of the detachment. The Naval Reserve Band under Conductor Underwood played "The Dead March" along the line of route. A firing party under Chief Instructor Hatton lead the way with arms reversed. Captain F. Tickell, D.S.O., was one of the mourners Chief Gunner Fulton had command of the ceremonial. At the graveside the Rev. F. Lynch, M.A., read the burial service. The coffin was borne to its last resting place on the shoulders of Messrs. G. Dyson, W. Kennedy, Jamieson, Gammon, J. O'Meara and Fitzgerald. Mr T. Lonsdale had charge of the mortuary arrangements. Deceased leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter.
Williamstown Chronicle, 5 February 1916
THE HERALD Monday 31 January 1916 Page 6
INJURED AT START OF WAR, CHIEF PETTY OFFICER DIES
While placing a guard on board a liner, detained In Hobson’s Boy, at the beginning, of the war, Chief Petty-Officer George Cann of the Naval Instructional Branch, was accidentally crushed. He has been in ill-health since, and yesterday he died at his home, “Chudloigh,” Osborne Street. South Williamstown.
Intent on doing his duty, the chief petty officer did not leave his post when injured, and was not medically attended to for several hours after the accident, and complications set in. He was 62 years, and had been connected with the navy for 47 years, 35 of which he was associated with the Australian Naval Forces. For the last seven or eight years he was a member of the Instructional Staff, which has charge of the Naval Cadets at Port Melbourne and Williamstown, In his earlier naval career he had been attached to her Majesty’s men-o’-war Cambridge, Vernon, and Sapphire, the last named in Australian waters. For a considerable period he was the officer in charge of the first-class torpedo boat Countess of Hopetoun, of the Commonwealth naval service. He was an unassuming, highly respected officer, and will be given a naval funeral.
FOOTSCRAY CHRONICLE
Saturday 5 February 1916
Page 2
OBTUARY.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER G. CANN.
A well-known instructor of the naval cadets trill be missing from the drill room in the person of Chief Petty Officer George Cann, of the V.I.S., who had for some 47 years been connected with both the Imperial and Commonwealth arm of the naval service. For some six months he had been in ill-health, the resole of an accident, and died at his home, Osborne street, on Sunday. He was a native of Chudleigh, Devonshire, and was 62 years of age. For some time he had charge of the torpedo boat Countess of Hopetown. In the Imperial service he had been attached at various times to the men-o'-war Cambridge, Vernon and Sapphire. Ha was a very conscientious officer and of unassuming disposition. At the commencement of the war he was injured through & collision of two boats in the bay.
The remains were interred on Tuesday afternoon in the local necropolis. Some 150 naval cadets, old shipmates and private mourners attended. The coffin was borne on a gun carriage covered with the Union Jack. Chief Instructor Crocker was in charge of the detachment. The Naval Reserve Band under Conductor Underwood played The Dead March along the line of Tonte. A firing party under Chief Instructor Hatton lead the way with arms reversed. Captain F. Tickell, D.S.O., was one of the mourners Chief Gunner Fulton had command of the ceremonial. At the graveside the Rev. F. Lynch, M.A., read the burial service. The coffin was borne to its last resting place on the shoulders of Messrs. G. Dyson, W. Kennedy, Jamieson, Gammon, J. OMeara and Fitzgerald. Mr T.J Lonsdale had charge of the mortuary arrangements.
Deceased leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter.
Articles about George Cann courtesy of Frank Noonan
