Mr George Walter Nettleton was born at 3 Dundee Road in St Denys, Hampshire, England on 26 October 1882.  He was the son of Frederick John Nettleton (1852-1931), a tram car driver, and Caroline Martin (1858-1930). His parents were from London and Hampshire, respectively and were married in 1877. His father also spent time serving with the British Army¹ and was deployed to Ireland.

He had nine known siblings: Frederick John (1878-1934), Caroline Amelia (b. 1879), Matilda Charlotte (1880-1981, later Mrs Albert James Scovell), Florence (1885-1887), Fanny (1887-1959, later Mrs Cornelius Reginald Francis Tart), Mary Ann (b. 1889), Luke William (1890-1891), Winifred (b. 1892) and Alfred (1894-1894).

George first appears on the 1891 census living at Old Portswood Road, South Stoneham, and his father was described as a tram labourer. The family are living at 3 Brooklyn Road, Portswood on the 1901 census and George is described as a labourer.

When he first went to sea is not certain. When he signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912, Nettleton gave his address as 23 Empress Road, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Oceanic and as a fireman he received monthly wages of £6.

George Nettleton, who was unmarried, died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

Both George's parents continued to live in Southampton, both passing away in the early 1930s. His last surviving sibling was his sister Matilda, who died in Southampton in 1981 just shy of her 101st birthday.