Private Charles George Lowestoft KiA 1917

The edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday 14th July 1917 possibly has a picture of this man. The caption reads “Private Charles George, Norfolk Regiment, husband of Mrs. George, 12, Fir Lane, Lowestoft, killed in action in France.”

 

Probably

GEORGE, ARTHUR CHARLES

Rank:………………………......Private

Service No:…………………26481

Date of Death:…………….28/04/1917

Regiment:…………………....Norfolk Regiment, 7th Bn.

Panel Reference:…………Bay 3.

Memorial:………………….....ARRAS MEMORIAL

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1558209/GEORGE,%20ART...

 

(Note the cap badge on the picture of Charles, although difficult to make out, is in outline very much like the Britannia of the Norfolk Regiment.)

 

SDGW records that Private Arthur Charles George was Killed in Action on the 28th April 1917 whilst serving with the 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. He was born and enlisted Lowestoft. No place of residence is shown.

 

The Medal Index Card for Private 26481 Arthur C George, Norfolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/7/233524

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2312377

 

His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where they were being stored.

 

There is no match on Picture Norfolk, the County image archive.

 

There is no obvious missing person enquiry held by the International Red Cross.

 

There is no obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.

 

Birth?

 

There is no likely birth for an Arthur Charles George recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk which covered births in Lowestoft and the nearby villages. There is an Arthur Clement George in 1888. There is also no married Arthur born or living in Lowestoft on the 1911 census of England and Wales, only a two year old born Lowestoft who was living with (probably) his maternal grand-parents in London.

 

There is however a Charles Arthur George whose birth was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1886.

 

The baptism of a Charles Arthur George, no date of birth recorded, was recorded in the County of Suffolk on the 6th May 1887. His parents were Frederick and Anna.

 

1891 Census of England and Wales

 

The 5 year old Charles A. George, born Lowestoft, was recorded living at 83 Lawson Road, Kirkley, Lowestoft. This was the household of his parents, Frederic, (40, Sailmaker, born Beccles, Suffolk) and Anna, (44, born East Bradenham, Norfolk). As well as Charles their other children living with them are:-

Ethel M……..aged 11……born Lowestoft

John F……….aged 9…….born Lowestoft

Maurice H…..aged 7……..born Lowestoft

Sidney……….aged 3……..born Lowestoft

Eva M……….aged 1……..born Lowestoft

The couple also have a 12 year old niece, Florence Pringay(?) from Lowestoft, living with them.

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

The George family were still living at 83 Lawson Road. Along with parents Frederick, (50) and Anna, (53), children still single and living at home are May, (21), John F, (19, Sailmaker), Maurice, (17, Shipwright), Charles, (15, Errand Boy), Sydney, (13), Eva, (11) and Leonard, (9). All the children are now shown as born Kirkley, Suffolk.

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

The George family were now recorded living at 34 Lorne Road, Kirkly, Lowestoft. Parents Frederick, (60) and Anna, (64) have been married for 32 years and have had 7 children, of which 6 were then still alive. Still single and living at home are Charles, (24, employed as a Cycle Maker), Sydney, (22, General Labourer), Eva, (21, Laundress) and Leonard, (19, recorded as feeble-minded). Again the children are all shown as born Kirkley. The couple also have a grand-daughter living with them, May George, (5, born Kirkley).

 

1913 – Possible marriage

 

The marriage of a Charles A George to an Eliza M Howe was recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1913.

 

Post August 1911 it had become compulsory when registering a birth in England and Wales to also record the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Births for England and Wales produces a number of matches for children registered with the surname George, mothers maiden Howe – the ones from 1911 to the end of the twenties looking to be in either London or Manchester. The exception are two in the Mutford District, although at least one, born in Q2 of 1921, was not a child of Charles and Eliza UNLESS Charles survived the war and the wrong marriage \ person has been identified. The other was an Eva George, whose birth was registered in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1914.

 

However, a check of the General Registrars Office Index of Deaths for England and Wales, 1837 – 2007 produces only two matches for a Charles A George, who was born between 1885-1887. Both of them fortunately appear in the Probate Calendar for the year of their deaths, and this confirms one was an Alfred and the other an Allen. Of course the husband of Eliza Howe could have died anywhere in the world.

 

It could also be a co-incidence, but an ‘Elisa’ M George married a Charles R Snowling in the Mutford District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1922.

 

On the day

 

12th Division, of which the 7th Norfolks were part took part in the Battle of Arleux during the period 28/29th April 1917.

 

Battle of Arleux

28 - 29 April 1917

Although the Canadian Corps had successfully taken Vimy Ridge, difficulties in securing the south-eastern flank had left the position vulnerable. To rectify this, British and Canadian troops launched an attack towards Arleux-en-Gohelle on 28 April. Arleux was captured by Canadian troops with relative ease, but the British troops advancing on Gavrelle met stiffer resistance from the Germans. The village was secured by early evening, but when a German counterattack forced a brief retreat, elements of the 63rd Division were brought up as reinforcements and the village was held. Subsequent attacks on 29 April however, failed to net any further advances. Despite achieving the limited objective of securing the Canadian position on Vimy Ridge, casualties were high, and the ultimate result was disappointing.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arras_(1917)

66 fatalities are recorded against the 7th Battalion on this day on the CWGC database

 

On 28th April, in the area of Monchy Wood, the battalion was briefed to attack and hold the German trenches to their front. The wire protecting these trenches had been subjected to an artillery bombardment prior to the unit going over the top that was supposed to have cut it and opened the way for the Norfolks. However, as was so often the case, the bombardment failed and the advance was held up by the wire and withering machine gun fire. For the whole day the men were taking shelter in shell holes and gradually succumbed to small arms and shell fire. According to the Norfolk’s Casualty Book, between 25th -30th April the battalion lost 235 men.

www.oldbuckenham-pri.norfolk.procms.co.uk/pages/viewpage....

 

28th April 1917 – Battalion War Diary 11pm.

 

At 4.25 am this morning C + D Companies – C Coy on the right advanced to capture RIFLE TRENCH and join up with A + B Companies. In conjunction with the attack of the 5th R. Berks Regt this would establish BLACK LINE.

 

At zero + 50 minutes – the BLACK LINE being captured, all four companies of the 7th Norfolk Regt with the 7th Suffolk Regt on their left should have proceeded to establish a map line according to the map references, given above, to be called the BLUE LINE.

 

At 2pm no definite news had been received regarding the attack. It appeared that A + B Coys went over the top at zero + 50 mins without gaining touch with C+D Coys and were lying out in front in shell holes having been entirely held up by M.Gun fire with both their flanks unprotected.

 

C + D Coys are unlocated. Some men of A + B Coys began to crawl in, back to our line but were at once sniped. At 11pm the situation is as follows. The attack by C + D Coys was held up by M Gun + rifle fire – none of our men reached the German line. The trench had not been touched by artillery and there was some wire.

 

For the remainder of the day our men lay out in shell holes being sniped by the enemy. As soon as it was dark all those that could returned to our lines + stretcher squads went out to bring in the wounded. During the whole of their work they were continually under M Gun + rifle fire which was done with the aid of extremely bright Very lights.

 

This fire was so heavy + so accurate that it was impossible to bring in many of our men who were badly wounded and close to the enemys Trench.

 

 

(Mildly photoshopped to minimise the visual impact of damage that was present on the original image.)

Done