Private George Henry Shorten, 1916 - He answered his countrys' call

This family headstone in Earlham Cemetery, Norwich, reads –

 

In

Affectionate Remembrance

of

ELEANOR.

The Dearly beloved wife of

WILLIAM SHORTEN,

who fell asleep 19th March 1916,

aged 70 years.

Her end was peace.

 

Also of

WILLIAM,

died 31st Decr. 1929.

Aged 86 years.

 

Also of

GEORGE HENRY,

Dearly beloved son of the above

who died of wounds received in action in France

18th November 1916

Aged 36 years.

 

He answered his countrys call.

 

That soldier on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website is:-

Private SHORTEN, GEORGE HENRY

Service Number:……………. 6147

Died:…………………………18/11/1916

Aged:……………………….. 36

Unit:………………………….1st Bn.

……………………………….Middlesex Regiment

Son of William and Eleanor Shorten, of 163, Oak St., St. Martin'S, Norwich. Native of Norwich.

Buried at ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY

Location: Pas de Calais, France

Cemetery/memorial reference: XII. E. 6A.

Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/505794/shorten,-georg...

 

Soldiers Died in the Great War, an HMSO publication from the 1920’s, records that Private PW.6147 George Henry Shorten Died of Wounds on the 18th November 1916 while serving in France & Flanders with the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). He was formerly 9152, Royal West Surrey Regiment.

He was born St. Martin’s, Norwich and resident and enlisted Norwich

 

The Medal Index Card for Private PW/6147 George H. Shorten, Middlesex Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/18/55026

Beyond admin references, there is no additional information on the card.

Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5146868

He qualified for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. This combination of medals would indicate he did not serve in a Theatre of War until on or after the 1st January 1916.

 

The associated Service Medal Roll shows that he only served overseas with the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.

 

His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the London Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.

 

The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment Rough Register Of Recruits 1914-1917 shows him to have attested with that Regiment on the 27th March 1916.

 

No match on Picture Norfolk, the County Image Archive.

 

No obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.

 

The Army Register of Soldiers Effects, a financial ledger rather than an inventory of belongings, shows that Private PW6147 George Henry Shorten, 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment died in France on the 18th November 1916. The balance of his pay would go to his father William in May 1917 – there was an initially a hold because there was believed to be a will, but this turned out not to be the case. Father William would also receive his sons’ War Gratuity when this was paid out in November 1919.

 

____________

 

The birth of a George Henry Shorten, mothers’ maiden name Porter, was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Norwich District of Norfolk in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1880.

 

The most likely marriage of his parents was that of a William Shorten to a “Helen” Porter recorded in the St. Faiths District of Norfolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1867.

 

1881 Census of England and Wales

 

The 11 months George H. Shorten, born St Martins, Norwich, was recorded living at Oak Street, Norwich. This was the household of his parents, William, (34, a Maltsters foreman, born Sprowston, Norfolk), and “Ellen”, (aged 33, born Blofield, Norfolk). As well as George their other children living with them are:-

Charlotte……aged 13……born Sprowston

William……..aged 10…….born Sprowston

Daniel……….aged 8……..born Sprowston

Arthur……….aged 6……..born Sprowston

Ernest……….aged 2……..born St Pauls, Norwich.

 

1891 Census of England and Wales

 

The Shorten family were recorded at 163 Oak Street, Norwich. Living with parents William, (45, Maltster) and Ellen, (46) were children Charlotte, (23, Tailoress), William, (21, Maltster), Daniel, (19, Railway Porter), Arthur, (17, Maltster), Ernest, (12), George H., (11) and new additions Ellen E., (9), Leonard W., (5) and Beatrice M., (10 months) – all born Norwich.

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

The Shorten family were still living at 163 Oak Street, and on this census schedule they are shown as living next door to a Maltings.As well as parents William, (54, Maltster) and Ellen, 56), children still single and living with them are Daniel, (28, Railway Porter), Arthur, (26. Maltster), Ernest, (22, Brewers Cooker), George, (20, Brewers Tun Room Labourer), Nellie, (18, Shirtmaker(?), working from home), Walter, (15, Maltster) and Beatrice, (10).

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

The Shorten family were still in residence at 163 Oak Street. Parents William, (64) and Eleanor, (66) state they have been married 43 years and have had 10 children, of which 7 were then still alive. Still single and living with them are George Henry, (31, Brewers Labourer), Ellen Elizabeth, (29), Walter Leonard, (25, Maltsters Labourer) and Beatrice Maud, (21, Tailoress, working from home).

 

 

Army Career…………………………………..

 

The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment Rough Register Of Recruits 1914-1917 shows him to have attested with that Regiment on the 27th March 1916.

In a last ditch attempt to avoid the need the need for conscription, in the last six weeks of 1915 the Government tried the Group System, more commonly known as the Derby Scheme. Men could enlist in a unit of there choice but would then be sent home and placed in the Army reserve to await call-up. A single man like George Henry Shorten, born in 1880, would have been in Group 18. A national proclamation went out on the 16th February 1916 giving a months notice that Group 18 men would be required to report to their units from the 18th March 1916. I can only surmise that George was a Derby Scheme man, but it does seem likely. www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-191...

 

Struggled to find anyone with a near service number for his Middlesex Regiment to work when and what circumstances he changed unit. Most sources don’t include the prefixes in the indexing, and as soldiers of this period didn’t have a unique number, a service number like 6147 serving with the Middlesex Regiment can produce 6 or 7 matches.

 

PW/6137 Ernest William Watts doesn’t have any surviving service records, but he was killed in action on the 2nd November 1916 serving with the 1st Battalion. His entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War shows he was formerly 9155 Royal West Surrey Regiment. It also shows he was born and resident North Walsham, enlisted Norwich.

 

There is a Medical Admissons Register entry for a PW/6162 William Goodhew which shows him at the 28th General Hospital on the 30th August 1916, and was then serving with C Company, 26th Battalion. He had been in the Army 7 months and was aged 33.

 

PW/6166 David Hutchinson doesn’t have any surviving service records, but he was killed in action on the 23rd April 1917 serving with the 1st Battalion. His entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War shows he was formerly G/12350 Queen’s Westminsters.

 

So speculation but I suspect George may have reported to the Depot at Norwich at the end of March expecting to serve with the Norfolk Regiment. Instead he was posted to a training battalion of the Royal West Surrey Regiment. Subsequently in the late summer of 1916 he may well have beent sent as part of either a general draft or a draft intended for one of the fighting Royal West Surrey battalions in France. But on arrival in France he would have gone first to an Infantry Base Depot. While there he could well have been posted to the 1st Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment.

 

 

On the day…………………………………

 

George appears to have been medically evacuated back to the British Army area near Etaples and Rouen. He probably died in one of the many hospitals there. This makes it difficult to know when he might have incurred his fatal wounds.

 

An extract from the official Regimental War History, “The Die-Hards in the Great War” Volume 2 by Everard Wyrall, gives some idea of the likely actions in which George may have been wounded.

 

The enemy was attacked on 28th October, the objective of the Brigade being the German positions in front of Le Transloy, known as Rainy Trench and Dewdrop Trench, and the dug-outs and points north-east of the latter. Zero hour was 5.30 a.m.

 

"A" and "C" Companies led the attack of the 1st Middlesex, an attack splendidly successful, for by 9.30 a.m. the whole objective was in their hands and handed over to a relieving battalion (4th Suffolk Regt.) that night. That success was dearly bought, for one officer (2/Lieut. C.A.T. Benson) was killed and seven officers (Capt. E.W. Shaw, Lieuts. C.R. Smith and H.C.O. Buchanan, and 2/Lieuts. R.B. Holman, E. Auckland, R.A. Buckingham, and A.W.C. Hodges) were wounded; 35 other ranks were killed, 136 wounded, and 29 were missing-total all ranks, 208.

 

On relief the Battalion moved back to the Flers line. Back again into the line at Les Boeufs on 1st November until 3rd (2/Lieut. Billman was wounded on 2nd), thence to Carnoy and Meaulte (where they were told they were going "right back for a long rest"), followed by a move to Huppy, where they stayed until the morning of 5th December,.

 

 

Postscript………………………

 

His father, William, would subsequently claim a Dependants pension as a result of the loss of his son – (this relates to financial dependency so almost certainly George was having some of his pay sent to his father). A pension of 4 shillings a week was awarded from the 6th November 1917. As the pension was initially means-tested, William may not have originally qualified. His son is shown as Died of Wounds on the 18th November 1916 while serving as Private 6147 with the 1st Middlesex. The address for the claim is shown as 163 Oak Street, Norwich.

 

Done