Ships
- HNLMS Sumatra (40) Captain from 30 April 1944 · Ship expended as a blockship on 9 June 1944
George Ernest Sutcliff had Sumatra when she was sunk as a blockship on 9 June 1944. The Dutch history calls him Captain G. H. Sutcliff and starts him on 30 April 1944, the day after she was transferred to the Royal Navy. Uboat.net calls him George Ernest Sutcliff, a retired captain, and starts him on 18 April 1944. The name used here is the full name on uboat.net. The command line uses 30 April, so that it does not overlap Heinrich Witte. The English rank is Captain, which both sources print. His navy is the Royal Navy.
Uboat.net records that he was born on 9 August 1885. The page gives no place and no date of death.
The rank table lists midshipman on 30 June 1902, sub-lieutenant on 30 August 1905, lieutenant on 1 April 1908, lieutenant-commander on 1 April 1916, commander on 30 June 1921, and captain on the retired list on 9 August 1931, which is also the retirement date. He was mentioned in despatches on 28 November 1944, after Sumatra had been sunk. The page says it has no career narrative. It heads an event for the armed merchant cruiser Mooltan on 27 February 1940, convoy SL 22. The fetched lines do not say in terms that he commanded her, so that command is not claimed.
On 29 April 1944 the Dutch history transfers Sumatra to the Royal Navy. On 30 April Sutcliff relieves Witte. On 9 June she was expended as a blockship for Gooseberry 5, 147 degrees from the Quistreham light, 4,500 metres off, sunk in 7.5 metres of water. Uboat.net ends him that day. She was not lost in action against Japan. The mention in despatches is dated 28 November 1944. The page does not say it was for the blockship.
The fetched pages do not record an appointment after 9 June 1944, or a death. The wreck was sold at auction on 14 February 1951.