William Robert George
Memorial: Olveston
Regiment: The Welsh Regiment
Medals: 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Private 56825
Parents: Mr C R George
Home address: Old Down Hill, Tockington, Bristol
Date of birth: 1892
Place of birth: Olveston, Glos
Date of death: 08/02/1917
Buried/Commemorated at: Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Somme, France
Further information:
William’s father believed that his youngest son was still in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry for this is the Regiment recorded on the father’s tombstone in Olveston Churchyard. However, William, who enlisted in Bargoed in South Wales, transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, though his date of joining is unknown. Since the start of hostilities, the Battalion had distinguished itself on the Western Front in the retreat from Mons and the battles at Ypres, Loos and the Somme
By the end of January 1917 the 2nd Battalion were involved in training in the area of Bazieux, south of the Somme River. They even had time for a bit of sport and a series of inter-company football matches took place. On February 2nd in cold, frosty weather the battalion marched north to Cerisy and two days later marched on to Chuignolles where they relieved the French in well-organised trenches facing Flaucourt on the south bank of the Somme. The diary of the Battalion records: “February 7th: Enemy very quiet except for a little trench mortaring. Enemy aeroplanes very active all day.” And for the 8th of February “Moderately quiet day. One man killed, two men wounded.” On that day William, aged 25, died of wounds and is buried at Hem Farm Military Cemetery on the north bank of the Somme some 10 miles south-east of Albert in France
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Forces War Records