George William Fry (Hinder)

Memorial: Wapley - St Peter's Church

Regiment: Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Medals: 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, Military Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Corporal R/4467

Parents: George and Florence Fry (adoptive parents William and Letitia Hinder)

Marital status: Single

Home address: Rose Cottage, Wapley, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Car Man

Date of birth: 23/08/1895

Place of birth: Kingswood, Bristol

Date of death: 28/02/1917

Buried/Commemorated at: Buried at Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France

Age: 21

Further information:

George was baptised at St Peters Church, Wapley 3/05/1896 as George William Fry. On the 1901 Census he was recorded with the surname Fry but living in Wapley with William and Letitia Hinder as a boarder (age 5). On the 1911 census, he was staying with William and Letitia’s oldest son Walter and was recorded as George Hinder (same birth year). He was described on the Census as ‘brother in law’ to Walter. Therefore, we can assume that sometime after 1901, George was adopted by the Hinders. On his service papers he states he was born in Southwark, London, but it was probably more convenient to say that at the time as he was living in Southwark with his adoptive Brother William Hinder. I have not found any information on his parents George and Florence.

George enlisted as a Private in the Army in London in September 1914 when he was described as 5' 7" tall and weighing 8st 5lb with brown hair blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He embarked with the 13th Battalion, for France in July 1915 and during 1916 would have fought in the Battles of the Somme. George was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in August 1916 and six months later to the rank of Corporal. He was killed in action, just five days after being promoted. As his battalion was not involved in any specific action on the day of his death, it is likely that George was a casualty of trench warfare, that claimed the lives of 300 soldiers per day throughout the war. Among George's personal effects sent to his family, were a pocket book and his Military Medal ribbon- the medal was reported officially as being awarded the month after his death, and his particular act of bravery in the field was not specified. The Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette on 12/03/1917. The medal was sent to his adoptive sister Louisa who still lived in Wapley.

George Fry is remembered on the Chipping Sodbury and District War Memorial Cottage Hospital board, which is now at Yate and District Heritage Centre.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Findmypast (Soldiers Died during the Great War, 1901 & 1911 Census etc), Volunteer Researcher John Davis.
Some of this information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/