George Phillpotts
Lieutenant George Phillpotts (1814 – 1 July 1845) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He was born in Durham, England in or about 1814. Career. George Phillpotts entered the Royal Navy on 5 September 1827, advanced to mate through examination on 26 November 1833, served on HMS "Asia" and received his commission with rank of lieutenant on 12 November 1841. On 8 February 1842 he was appointed to the newly commissioned HM Steam Sloop "Vixen", under Commander Henry Boyes, RN, being manned and provisioned at Plymouth, England, for her maiden voyage to the East India station and China . China. "Vixen", as part of long expected reinforcements from England and India for the First Anglo-Chinese War, HMS "Hazard" amongst them, joined the British fleet at anchor of Chapoo, China, in May 1842, Then whilst off Woosung following the capture of the town, "Vixen" was placed in company with HM Ships "Cornwallis", "Calliope", transport "Marion" with Sir Hugh Gough and staff, and seven other transports in the first of the six divisions of the General Squadron, for the cruise up the Yangtze river on 6 July to Nanking. She took "Cornwallis" in tow up to Kin Shan (Golden Island ). In the afternoon of 15 July, Gough and Sir William Parker went on in the "Vixen" to reconnoitre Kin Shan and the approaches to Chinkiang at the entrance of the South Grand Canal. "Vixen's" officers and sailors assisted in the storming and capture of Chinkiang on 21 July 1842. Having passed Kin Shan, "Vixen" came alongside the flagship HMS "Cornwallis" on 3 August and took her in tow up the river to anchor off the batteries at Nanking. She stood in the river with HM ships "Cornwallis", "Blonde", "Modeste", "Childers", "Clio", "Driver", and HEIC steamers "Auckland", "Queen", "Pluto", "Phlegathon  and Medussa" during the treaty negotiations that bought an end to the war. For their participation, "Vixen's" crew were eligible for the China War Medal (1842). New South Wales. Lieutenant Phillpotts was appointed to HMS "Hazard", under Commander Charles Bell, RN, on 15 December 1842, the day of her arrival at Sydney, New South Wales. After China, "Hazard" had left Singapore on 18 October, Anyer, Indonesia on 1 November, for refitting in Sydney into January 1843. She departed Sydney, New South Wales, for Auckland, New Zealand on 4 July 1844. New Zealand. HMS "Hazard", under the command of Acting  Commander David Robertson-Macdonald following Commander Bell's death in August 1844, was in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand at the start of the Flagstaff War. At dawn on Tuesday 11 March 1845, a force of about 600 Māori armed with muskets, double-barrelled guns and tomahawks commenced the Battle of Kororāreka. Lieutenant Phillpotts, in command of HMS "Hazard" after Commander Robertson-Macdonald was severely wounded, ordered the bombardment of Kororāreka. In the early hours of Thursday, 13 March, the third day of fighting at of Kororāreka, HMS "Hazard" prepared for sea and conveyed the sick and wounded to  Auckland. On 1 July 1845, he took part in the Battle of Ōhaeawai, as naval guns were taken inland for the siege at the pā at Ōhaeawai. Colonel Despard ordered an assault upon the pā, during which many soldiers died, with Phillpotts also among the casualties. He was buried at St. John the Baptist Church. Arms of Phillpotts. "Escutcheon"—Gules a cross argent between four swords erect argent, pommels and hilts or. "Crest"—A dexter arm embowed in armour, holding in the hand a sword all proper.