C.P.O. George Albert Edward
Ettie B.E.M., R.N.
TA/SI (D)

George was born and raised in Gosport, Hampshire. His naval career began shortly after his father, C.P.O. George Albert Ernest Ettie , died of malaria in Cape Town, South Africa in 1921. His mother could not afford to raise six children by herself so George, at the age of twelve, was sent off to the Royal Hospital School, Greenwich.

One of the principal aims of the Greenwich Hospital Charter being
"the maintenance and education of children of seamen".

Upon graduation, at the age of sixteen, George joined HMS Ganges for his basic training in the Royal Navy.

Swimming medal dad won while at HMS Ganges

In his early days Dad served with the Atlantic fleet, visiting the British West Indies on board HMS Nelson along with his brother Bill who was aboard HMS Malaya. Later spending much of his pre-war time with the Mediterranean Fleet based in Malta, primarily on board HMS Hero, and participating in the Spanish Civil War, where he recalled becoming the target of a bomber while driving the Captain ashore in a launch. As he made evasive manouvres, the bombs exploded behind their little craft, but never quite made their target. During his time in the Mediterranean Dad was never without his Kodak Portrait Hawkeye No.2 camera (which is still fully functional and in excellent condition), and took many photographs of the war, and the ships of various nations, which I hope to eventually feature in my Spanish Civil War pages.

Ironically, during this time, Dad photographed U-boat U-26 which was commanded by Werner Hartmann, later to become a leading U-boat ace. "With his first U-boat, U-26, he patrolled in Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War in 1937-38." "On board was the later famous Oberleutnant Günther Prien" who commanded U-47 when it entered Scapa Flow in 1939 and headed directly for the newly commissioned HMS Belfast, the fastest ship in the Royal Navy, on which George Ettie was serving at the time. Fortunately for George U-47 made a 180 degree turn and subsequently found HMS Royal Oak, which it sank.

Later Dad joined the Home Fleet with his posting to HMS Belfast . He was with her from before her commissioning and oversaw the installation and testing of her ASDIC equipment. When on patrol in the Northern approaches, he recalled the heavy ice accumulations on the railings of the Belfast, and how they would have to go out onto the slippery, and rolling decks, in the bitter cold, to chip it away. It may have been on one of these patrols that he detected a U-boat and the Belfast engaged it. Dad occasionally spoke of sinking a U-Boat but that it was never confirmed, so they were never given credit for it. During these patrols they also captured three merchant ships, the Cap Norte , the Tai Yin , and the Swedish C.F. Liljevalch , all of which were taken back to Scotland by prize crews. Under Admiralty law the crew of the Belfast shared in the prize money received from these captures. The Cap Norte was believed to be carrying German reservists to Germany from South America.

George was a Senior Submarine Detector Instructor and, after the Belfast was damaged by a magnetic mine from U21 , he was temporarily shore based before being specially selected for a posting to St. Johns, Newfoundland, where he was assigned to the RCN, and placed in charge of maintenance and training at the newly established anti-submarine base, HMCS Avalon. It was here that he was awarded the British Empire Medal.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1 JANUARY, 1944 CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. St. James's Palace, S.W.1. 1st January, 1944. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards of the British Empire Medal (Military Division) to the undermentioned :- Acting Chief Petty Officer George Albert Edward Ettie, P/JX.125799. George was summoned to Holyrood House in Edinburgh, Scotland where King George VI personally presented him with this medal.