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Corke, George A.

Born 1908, educated at Cowes, boat-boy - racing helmsman - tugmaster - Mylor Dockyard owner

1926 - 1929 on Lady Maud

1930 -1937 on Capt. Dixon's Sea Crest, (cruising to Oslo & Gothenburg, for I.O.D. racing, see Kara)

On Sea Crest, George Corke photographed many yachts, including King Kristian's Danneborg and Hitler's yacht

Was this picture of the Danish Roiyal Yacht, taken by George Corke, at Hanko? [suggestions please!]

Sea Crest's log: "Saturday 22 June, 1935. Found Mynone [6-metre] at Hanko.

Sunday: First race for Gold Cup. Norway 1, Sweden 2, Denmark, USA and England in a bunch, last.

England 2nd in first round but apparently did not like lighter wind in the second.

Bob Cat running very fast. Went to start in Fleddermaus & afterwards sailed her watching the races."

This picture seems most likely to have been taken between 2-9 August, 1936 - during the Kiel Olympics.

Capt. Dixon's log: "Watching Olympic races Tuesday - Friday. Saturday Aug. 9th, left Olympia Harbour, Keil about.9 a.m."

Sea Crest put into Littlehampton on Aug.19th: "Got a good berth alongside the old Vendetta, but were worried by a very fussy owner."

George went to Falmouth, from Portland, on Saturday 22 Aug, rejoining the boat in Torquay, at 4.30 p.m. on Monday 24th.

The next day; " Took Mr. & Mrs Foster out to see J Class racing (very light airs & slow race stopped)."

Thurs. & Friday 27 & 28 Aug., "in Dartmouth watching Regatta. Sat. - followed J Class to Eastern mark, then went on to Salcombe."

Portrait (undated) of George on his motor-boat above Turnaware (Fal)

(Photo by G. Sted, Orpington, courtesy of Kenny & Jenny Corke)

George Corke with a Cup presented at Flushing Sailing Club (Flushing Regatta?) and, sitting on the RCYC wall. (Dates unknown)

RCYC Prizegiving - First of three cups and the Champagnefor George Corke.

George Corke on passage to Fowey? (photo by & date n/a/)

1909	The Corke family moved from Shoreditch - Cowes. " I was born in London Shoreditch & at the age of 6-months developed whooping cough, and the doctor told my parents, that if they kept me in London, I would die. My father being an Isle of Wight man, removed me to Cowes, where I spent my boyhood naturally messing about in boats. As a boy I knew every large liner, such as Olympic, Majestic, Acquitainia, Berengeria, Leviathan and all the great liners of the 20's., besides knowing every yacht in the 23-metre etc."	1910 E-W Cowes steam ferry	23m White Heather II (1909)
1922	Joined German Billy Boy "Altje" ketch as Boy My sole ambition was to go to sea, so, at the age of 14, I joined the German Billy Boy Altze ["Altje" ?] 180-ton ketch trading Home Trade, that is between Ushant and the River Albe [Elbe]. The skipper was from Bude; this was the start of my Cornish connection. The crew consisted of the skipper, one AB and myself as boy. I had several trips trading around the Channel ports.
1923	I then joined the ketch Lady Agnes, as boy, registered at St. Agnes, Cornwall. Cornish connection again! Lady Agnes was a beautiful ship, and the skipper kept her like a yacht. Again, we traded up and down the Channel, carrying cargo to/from Germany, Holland, France, and UK ports. As a boy it was a very hard life, but it was a way of life that I loved.
1924	Joined Plymouth Trading topsail schooner "Hector Cundy" 87-tons as Boy (aged 16) Engaged at Cowes 1/1/1924, discharged 7/7/24 at Torquay, "penniless" "This ship really broke me in, the skipper was from the old school, and kept me on the run, day and night. The skipper was always sending me aloft on any pretence, being very agile at 15. When coming from aloft, I would slide down the forestay, topmast forestay or backstay, and frightening the life out of the skipper, which cured him of sending me aloft unnecessary (sic). After a year in the schooner, carrying everything and going everywhere, I wanted to go further afield, to more exotic places I had heard about."	Hector Cundy Engaged at Cowes 1/1/1924, discharged 7/7/24 at Torquay
1925	Joined Royal Navy, H.M.S. Ganges "I went to Southampton to try and get a job on the liners as bell boy, but jobs were hard to get in the 20's, and I remember coming out of No. 4 gate Southampton Docks and on the opposite side of the road, was an officer with a large poster, saying “Join the Royal Navy.” I went and signed on for 12-years, subject to parents approval, which I got after many tears from mother. I was posted to H.M.S. Ganges at Shotley, Harwich. After 9-months of solid training, square bashing, seamanship, gunnery, etc., I was given the rank of O.S. first class. During that 9-months I never set foot on a ship's deck, so I began to think about getting out of the Royal Navy, and back to sea. "	Postcard photo-portait by Edith F. Driver, 43 Bramford Lane, Ipswich " to Alice, from George, Aug.15, 1925 ."
1925-26	H.M.S. Columbine. "From H.M.S. Ganges, I was sent to H.M.S. Columbine at Port Edar, another shore establishment at Queensferry in Scotland, right under the Forth Bridge. After months of more training and no ships, and continuous requests to get out of the Navy, on my 18th birthday, [1926?] my request was granted for the sum of £50. I went home and joined the White Heather, a 23-metre racing yacht [scrapped 1932]. We were 22 hands on board, and I spent that summer racing around the coast against Britannia, Lulworth, Nyria and the schooner Westward, etc. In September, of 1926, I got a berth on the cutter Lady Maud from Southampton for a passage to Falmouth. After all my Cornish connections, I come at last to Mylor Dockyard, Cornwall. Capt. Dixon had taken Admiralty Cottage, where I have lived since, and asked me if I would fit out the Lady Maud that winter for a cruise in the Baltic in 1927, to which I agreed. Well, I met a pretty face in Flushing and eventually married my wife."	White Heather II (Aug 1924)	Lady Maud Fitting out Lady Maud
1927	Yachting and cruising on "Lady Maud" ( Capt. R.T. Dixon) "In the 10-ton cutter LADY MAUD and other craft of the 12 and 8-metre classes, Captain Dixon & George Corke both competed in Channel and ocean contests, and later in races in the Baltic."	George Corke (crew uniform)
1928	In 1928 I sat for my 2nd Officer's ticket, whilst serving in a company called Baltic Traders Ltd. Capt. Dixon wrote and asked me if I would rejoin him, for cruising etc. From 1932 to 1939 I cruised and raced all over the world with Captain Dixon.
1930	Fastnet Race, Channel Race, Hook of Holland, etc.,
1931	8-Metre, Ocean Races
1932	Baltic, Finland etc. 2728
1933	Baltic 4079 R.T. Dixon and B.A. Corke - 1st in the six-metre race, European Regatta at Kiel Sound. Kaiser Wilhelm presented their cup.
1934	Med. Cannes, etc, cruising 5680
1935	America 6-Metres Racing 7800
1936	Cruising 12-Metres 3618
1937	Baltic Racing I.O.D. 4020	George Corke 1937	Kara (Racing Norway 1937)
1938	Baltic Racing 2855	In Gothenburg on Sea Crest
1939	Baltic Racing, Cruising 1904 - see ref to leaving Vessel in Norway "When war started in 1939, I was promptly called up by the Admiralty who had placed me on the Naval Reserve; naturally, having spent money and time in training me. So I signed T124 Articles and was given the rank of Sub. Lt. R.N.R. My first ship was called Salvage King. We fitted out in Liverpool and, when completed, sent to be based at Scapa Flow. Our first job was to pick up ships in the North Atlantic, which had been torpedoed but not sunk, and get them back to port. After 12-months I got my command, given the rank of Lt. Commander R.N.R.
1940	Royal Navy - H.M.S. Salvage King "a former Canadian tug" as 2nd Officer (1 June - 12 Sept. 1940) Built by Bow & MacLaughlan, Paisley. After trials she sailed to Vancouver B.C., leaving in February 1925, arriving the middle of March, under command of Chief officer W. Weaver. She returned to the UK during World War II. George Corke served as 2nd Officer from 1 Jan. - 12 Sept.1940. "With a crew of 65 and fitted with the latest salvage gear, we worked from the Orkney Isles, saving many ships for 9-months until we were lost ourselves."	George Corke as 2nd Mate (1940)
1941	Royal Navy H.M.S. Zwartzee (Liason Officer), Minona, Marauder. 1st. Officer of Ocean Tug Buccaneer. "From 1941 I was based [!] at Stornaway in the Hebridies, Campbelltown, in Argyllshire, Iceland, convoy runs to Murmansk, E-Boat Alley on the East Coast, Invasion of Normandy, Mediterranean, etc." 1st Officer of Ocean Tug Freebooter (Sept, 1941) A floating drydock capable of accommodating vessels of the "Prince of Wales" class was towed from under naval & RAF escort by the tugs H.M.S. Superman, Freebooter and Empire Henchman		Drydock tow under escort
1942	Royal Navy, H.M.S. Maurauder (First Mate) "I have never worked so hard in my life as I did on that ship from 1941 to 1943. Based at the Hebrides, we towed in ships of all nationalities, size & condition. the Germans were torpedoing and bombing ships faster than we could build them, and even a damaged one was very valuable."		Enlarged crop from left
1943	Served on Royal Navy Tugs: Seaman, Superman, St. Mellons, Sea Giant.	Two Royal Navy Tugs c.1943
1944	Royal Navy Champion and, HMS Sabine (W74) Text of a newspaper cutting, author & date n/a (see right): "Among famous tugs operating with the Royal Navy is the one you see on the left affectionately called "Tugboat Annie." She is H. M. Tug Sabine and is the vessel that was used in Marie Dressler's film. As a rescue-tug she has played a splendid part in the Channel operations. Above are her commander, Lieut. G. A. Corke, R.N.R., (pointing) and other officers."		Commander Corke (pointing)
1945	Royal Navy MED., Patroclus (Master) "a US tug" Whilst in Venice, George Corke was best man at the wedding of the 2nd Officer of the Empire Minnow. Patroclus and Empire Griffin's assisted in the rescue of the US ship John Hammond	H.M.R.T. Patroclus at Livorno	Crew of Petroclus Towing German prisoners, to dump German ammo.
1946-49	Odd Jobs, Salvage, Delivery. G.A. Corke's last command, as Master on Patroclus (seen as W0118 and in camoflage). He was granted 21 days Foreign Service leave and 56 days resettlement leave from 28 March to 13 June, 1946 and was released from Naval Service.
1949		Mylor Yacht Yard George and his wife lived at Admiralty Cottage (middle building) following the death of Captain Dixon, and bought the freehold of Mylor Dockyard from the Trefusis Estate. [ This picture was probably taken c1900 - well before Dixon arrived - but illustrates "progress" over the years! ]
1950	Mylor Yacht Yard
1951
1952	Salvage - Flying Enterprise (salvage) 17 Jan. relieved of Jury Service due to Penryn Court conviction for smuggling!

1960	23 April. Opened St. George's Arcade on the site of ruins of the derelict St. George's Cinema (badly damaged by fire during the war) Conversion into arcade of shops.


1963	Bought freehold of Admiralty House, Dockyard & buildings from the Trefusis estate ("for £5,000")