George, my uncle, was born on Christmas Day 1895. He was the eldest of five boys. He did not volunteer to join the army in 1914 and was sent a white feather. He volunteered in 1915 and was sent to France later that year as a Lewis Gunner. In 1916 he was awarded the Military Medal. On the 19th of April near Souchet a mine exploded, he ran forward with his lewis gun and opened fire on the enemy trenches from the edge of the crater and remained there until relieved the next morning. He caused casualties and considerable annoyance and prevented their orking parties making headway.

       He was killed on March 21st 1918. We have the letter his platoon commander wrote to his mother from hospital. It describes in graphic detail his death. They were going up to the front across open ground when they encountered gas. They stopped to put on their gas masks. Almost immediately after, the platoon was hit by a mortar which killed five of their number including George, the added detail was that his head was blown off.

       His two youngest brothers were six and nine but christmas decorations were never put up in their house again

Carolyn Pragnell