George Fox Hosking was born in Shaldon, Devonshire, England on 28 October 1875, later being baptised on 30 November that same year at Ringmore Church, Shaldon.
He was the eldest child of Thomas Richard Hosking (1845-1926), a master mariner, and Mary Elizabeth, née Strang (1847-1928). Both his parents were native to Devon but were married in Liverpool's St Luke's Church on 16 January 1873, going on to have five children: George, Thomas Strang (b. 1877), William Champion (b. 1879), Helena Christina (b. 1882) and Bessie Strang (b. 1892).
The 1881 through 1901 censuses shows the family living at The Green in Shaldon, Devon although George would be absent from the latter.
He was educated at Teignmouth Grammar School and upon leaving he was apprenticed to A. W. Robertson & Co of Royal Albert Dock, London. He served on various vessels, including the Flintshire, Trelosk and Georgia before joining the White Star Line with whom he served on ships such as the Athenic, Teutonic, Bovic and Republic before joining the Olympic in 1911. He held a first class certificate of competency.
He was married in Essex in 1904 to Ada Alice Shapland (b. 27 March 1879), a native of Ramsgate, Kent and the couple went on to have three children: Iris May (1905-1972, later Mrs Thomas Wallace), George Thomas (1907-1958) and William Bock (1909-1953).
Initially settling in Bootle, Lancashire, George and his family relocated to Southampton around 1908 and appear on the 1911 census living at Glen Villa, 28 Avenue Road, Itchen where he was described as a marine engineer.
When he signed on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, George gave his address as 28 Avenue Road, Itchen. His previous ship had been the Olympic and as senior third engineer he could expect monthly wages of £16, 10s.
Hosking died in the sinking, his body was not recovered.
His family were later assisted financially by the Titanic Relief Fund. His widow Alice returned to live in Essex and was remarried in 1921 to a Mr Henry Alonzo Moore (1876-1954). She died in Ilford, Essex on 27 February 1944.
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George Fox Hosking (my paternal grandfather) was married to Mary Elizabeth HOSKING nee Strang not HOCKING. I can provide the marriage certificate to prove this. Zelda Cianchi (nee Hosking)
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Sad to say that Teignmouth Grammar School did not open until 1921. Can you check your source?
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George Fox Hosking was my father's father (my paternal grandfather). You could add that, prior to his secondment to the Titanic, he was 2nd. engineer on her sister ship, the Olympic. I am proud that all Engineers stayed at their posts. By keeping the pumps burning, it is estimated that they prolonged the sinking by 2 hours, saving many lives. You may also have observed that their efforts also kept the generators powering the distress transmitter and lights burning until the end.
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