Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Kitson, a carrier, born 1844 in Marr, Yorks., and his wife Mary Ann Kitson (nee Otley, married in the 4th quarter of 1868 in the Doncaster, Yorks. district), born 1852 in Carcroft, Yorks. George Edward, a schoolboy was born in the 4th quarter of 1875 in Doncaster, Yorks., his siblings were, Mary Sophia, a schoolgirl, born 1874 and Alice Jane, born 1878, both his siblings were born in Carcroft, Yorks., in April 1881 the family home was at Norton, Doncaster, Yorks. In April 1891 George was employed as an agricultural labourer and was residing in the family home at Farm House, Owston, Doncaster, Yorks., together with his father, a threshing machinist, his mother and siblings, Mary, a maid, Alice, a schoolgirl, Lilian M., a schoolgirl, born 1878 in Norton, Yorks., and Arthur C., born 1887 in Carcroft, Yorks. In March 1901 George was employed as a sanitary pipe maker and was residing in the family home at Hartcliffe, Denby Dale, Denby, Wortley, Yorks., together with his wife Eliza Kitson (nee Medley, married in the 4th quarter of 1897 in the Sheffield, Yorks. district), born 1872 in Cumberworth, Yorks. He was killed in a mine explosion in the North Sea.
The background relating to the circumstances in which George lost his life are as follows; In 1914 HMS Recruit was in active commission at the Nore based at Sheerness tendered to HMS Actaeon, a Royal Navy training establishment. With the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 she was assigned to the Nore Local Flotilla. Her duties included anti-submarine and counter mining patrols in the Thames Estuary. The R Class vessel was lost on 9th August 1917 in the North Sea either by mine or torpedo from UB-16 and went down with the loss of 54 officers and men. The UB-16 was herself sunk on the 10th May 1918 after being torpedoed by the British submarine HM submarine E-34 in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth. However, up to then, the UB-16 had sunk 24 British merchant ships with another one damaged and one taken as a prize in addition to the sinking of the British destroyer HMS “Recruit.”

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
George Edward Kitson's grandson, A E Kitson, got in touch with the project in 2015 and kindly provided the following additional information and clarifications:
George's father, James Kitson, was born 09/10/1843, and his mother, Mary Ann Kitson, was born in 1851. George Edward himself was born 17/10/1875.
Edward (his preferred name) joined the Royal Navy on 30/10/1895, signing up for an initial period of 12 years and renewing in 1907. He married Eliza Bailey (b Garthorpe, Leicestershire 25/04/1887, d 1973) at Somerby in Leicestershire on 08/06/1908. They had two sons, Geoffrey George (b 1912) and Thomas Edward Russell who was born on 05/11/1917, just 12 weeks after George Edward was killed in the North Sea. His younger son was given a middle name of Russell because HMS Russell was one of the ships on which Edward served.
Edward spent much of his time abroad in the West Indies, South America, Malta and China. In 1909, while serving on HMS Bedford in China, which was conducting speed trials, the vessel ran onto some rocks and was completely wrecked. Edward lost everything except the clothes he was wearing. In 1916, while serving on HMS Russell in the Mediterranean, the ship struck a mine and sank. Edward again escaped after spending 36 minutes in the water. He was one of the last to leave the ship and was mentioned in Admiral Freemantle’s dispatches. He was recommended for recognition of bravery and coolness shown under very trying conditions and was thanked by the Admiralty. Eventually he was awarded the Bronze medal for Valour (Italy).
His vessel was lost 3 miles north of the Noord Hinder light vessel.