Gunner George William Jinks was born in Stoke Damerel, Devonport in December 1858 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Impregnable in April 1874. Advanced to Boy 1st Class in May of the following year, to Ordinary Seaman in December 1876, and to Able Seaman in November 1877, by the time he joined H.M.S. Dryad in late 1883, he had risen to the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class. Aboard the latter ship he witnessed his only stint of active service, being present with the Naval Brigade at El-Teb-Tamaai, experience which no doubt contributed to his elevation to Chief Gunner's Mate and, in April 1887, to Gunner, R.N. Jinks was finally pensioned in December 1899 and died at Yarmouth Hospital in February 1903.