Engineer-Lieut John McLennan Hine was died or was killed as a result on enemy action during the Battle of Jutland on May 31st, 1916, while serving on board the battlecruiser HMS Invincible, which was sunk.
Born in Maryport, Cumberland, in 1872, he and his family had lived in Rothesay Road, Luton, for two or three years prior to 1910. He had married Lydia Emma Booth in Suffolk on May 5th, 1901. They had four children - Alfred, Lydia Margaret, Joan McLennan and Nancy Mary McLennan. Nancy was born in Luton.
A qualified naval engineer, John Hine was chief engineer of the Holme Line of steamships owned by Messrs Hine Bros, of Maryport before coming to Luton. In Luton he first worked for Mr William Looker and later for George Kent's and Balmforth's. He left Luton to take up the appointment of engineering inspector with the Ocean Accident Insurance Co at their Nottingham branch.
Although over military age, he offered his services to the Admiralty on the outbreak of war. When delay took place he accepted the offer of a captaincy in the Sherwood Foresters. In December 1915 he exchanged into the Navy and, after a period of training at Portsmouth, was appointed to the Invincible as engineer-lieutenant.