Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Copson, a contractors labourer, born 1861 in Husbands Bosworth, Leics., and his wife Ellen Copson (nee Bateman, married q2 1887 in the Market Harborough, Leics. district), born 1867 in Husbands Bosworth, Leics. George Henry was born on the 10th February 1888 in Loughborough, Leics., his siblings were, Agnes M., born 1887 in Market Harborough, Leics., Edward, born 1889 and Mary, born 1890, the latter two siblings were both born in Loughborough, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at 17, Wellington Street, Loughborough, Leics. In March 1901 George was residing in the family home at 48, Moor Lane, Loughborough, Leics., together with his father, now a night soil foreman, and his mother and siblings, Edward and Mary. George enlisted into the Royal Navy to serve a 12 year engagement on the 16th April 1903, his reckonable service to commence on the 10th February 1906 and he was allocated the service number 225838 in Chatham, Kent. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height, his hair colour was brown and his eyes were hazel, his complexion was described as fresh, it was noted that he had two “N’s” tattooed on his left forearm, two faces, one a sailor, the other a woman on his left wrist and crossed flags on his right wrist, he gave his trade or calling as houseboy. At the age of 18 he was re-examined and his height was recorded as 5 foot 5 inches. His record of service began when he joined HMS Caledonia as a Boy 2nd Class on the 16/4/03 - 17/11/03, when he was promoted to Boy 1st Class (Signaller). HMS Caledonia, 18/11/03 – 31/5/04. HMS Pembroke, 1/6/1/04 – 5/10/04. HMS Berwick, 6/10/04 – 9/2/06, when he was promoted to Signalman. HMS Berwick, 10/2/06 – 12/3/06. HMS Pembroke I, 13/3/06 – 9/7/06, when he was promoted to Ordinary Signalman. HMS Pembroke I, 10/7/06 – 7/8/06. HMS Pembroke II, 8/8/06 – 31/5/07. HMS Octacon, 1/6/07 – 30/9/07, when he was promoted to Leading Signalman. HMS Octacon, 1/10/07 – 14/9/08. HMS Pembroke I, 15/9/08 – 30/3/09. HMS Dido, 31/3/09 – 14/8/10, when he completed his term of engagement. George re-enlisted for the period of hostilities and joined HMS Victory I as a Leading Signalman from the 16/3/15 – 22/7/15. HMS Hecla, 23/7/15 – 2/9/15. HMS Hecla (Shark), 3/9/15 – 18/3/16. HMS Sparrowhawk, 19/3/16 – 31/5/16, when he was killed at the Battle of Jutland. Circumstances of the action in which George lost his life are as follows, HMS Sparrowhawk was sunk on 1 June 1916 after a collision with HMS Broke at the Battle of Jutland. Six of her crew were killed. At around 23.40 some of the ships of the 4th destroyer flotilla formed up under Commander Walter Allen of HMS Broke, who was the half-flotilla leader, with the aim of continuing the attack against German ships nearby. HMS Broke was caught in searchlights coming from the German battleship SMS Westfalen. She attempted to fire torpedoes, but the range was very short, in the region of 150 yards, and the German ship opened fire first. The effect was devastating so that within a couple of minutes 50 crew were killed and another 30 injured, disabling the guns and preventing any effective activity on deck. The helmsman was killed at the wheel, and as he died his body turned the wheel causing the ship to turn to port and ram HMS Sparrowhawk. Sub Lieutenant Percy Wood saw HMS Broke coming towards them at 28 knots, heading directly for HMS Sparrowhawk’s bridge. He shouted warnings to the crew on the foc'sle to get clear, and then was knocked over by the impact. He awoke to find himself lying on the deck of HMS Broke. Wood reported to Commander Allen, who told him to return to his own ship and make preparations there to take onboard the crew of HMS Broke. Two other men from HMS Sparrowhawk were also thrown onto HMS Broke by the collision. Returning to HMS Sparrowhawk, Wood was told by his own captain, Lieutenant Commander Sydney Hopkins, that he had just sent exactly the same message across to HMS Broke. Approximately 20 men from HMS Sparrowhawk evacuated to HMS Broke, while fifteen of HMS Broke’s crew crossed to HMS Sparrowhawk. At this point a third destroyer, HMS Contest steamed into HMS Sparrowhawk, striking six feet from her stern. HMS Contest was relatively unharmed and able to continue after the collision. HMS Broke and HMS Sparrowhawk remained wedged together for about half an hour before they could be separated and HMS Broke got underway, taking 30 of HMS Sparrowhawk’s crew with her. HMS Sparrowhawk still had engine power but the rudder was jammed to one side so she could do nothing except steam in circles, near the burning destroyer HMS Tipperary. At around 02.00 a German torpedo boat approached, coming within 100 yards, but then turned away. Only one gun was still functional, which the captain and his officers manned personally as the gun crews had been killed or injured, but they held fire in the hope the German would not initiate an attack HMS Sparrowhawk could not hope to survive. Shortly after, HMS Tipperary sank, putting out the fire which was attracting attention to the area. At around 03.30 HMS Sparrowhawk sighted a German cruiser, again causing considerable alarm, but shortly afterwards the ship was seen to list and then sink bow first. This was the SMS Elbing, which had been torpedoed and then abandoned. At 06.10 a raft approached, carrying 23 men from HMS Tipperary, three were found to be already dead, while five more died after being taken on board. An hour later three British destroyers arrived and HMS Marksman attempted to get two hawsers attached to HMS Sparrowhawk to tow her to safety. The high seas meant the ropes parted and there were reports of German submarines nearby. It was decided that HMS Sparrowhawk must be abandoned, and HMS Marksman fired 18 shells into her to ensure that she sank.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
C. Long (2015) has said that Ellen Copson was actually Georges daughter- his wife was Florence Theresa Gilford and they had two daughters- Florence (1913-1996) and Ellen Agnes (1915-2001)
Coalville Times article - Friday June 23rd, 1916

George H. Copson, formerly of Loughborough was one of those who went down in the North Sea battle. His father lives at Oxford Street, Loughborough. Copson had lived at Whitwick where he was a miner, and joined the Navy on the outbreak of war. He was 28 years of age, and leaves a widow and two children.

Coalville Times article - Friday August 18th, 1916

WHITWICK MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday morning a memorial service was held in the Whitwick Parish Church for five more parishioners who have recently fallen in the war. – Privates L. Whitmore, H. Burton, C. Wilson, and E. Walton, and Seaman Copson. There was a large congregation, which included the Whitwick and Thringstone Citizen Corps, under Commander J. Lester, and the local Boy Scouts, also a good number of men in khaki and relatives of the deceased. The Vicar (the Rev. T. W. Walters) preached an appropriate sermon, and suitable hymns were sung. At the close of the service, which was very impressive, one of the Boy Scouts sounded “The Last Post” and the organist, Mr R. G. West played the Dead March, the National Anthem also being sunk. Peals were rung during the day with the bells muffled.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 14/10/2017