George was born in Wolverhampton in 1884, and was baptised at St Matthew’s Church on 19 October 1884. The family were at 8 Derry Street in 1891. Like his brother, he became an edge tool grinder. George married Annie Harley in St George’s Church, Wolverhampton on 4 August 1912, and they went on to have two children, Charles Arthur and Nellie, in 1913 and 1914.

On 13 August 1914, our great uncle George enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 10106). While in Gallipoli in August 1915, he started complaining of shortness of breath. The Medical Board that met on 16 November 1915 stated that he had suffered from rheumatic fever 13 years ago, and now had a cardiac hypertrophy, the “result of natural causes aggravated by the strain of active service”. He was diagnosed with “Aortic and Mitral Disease” and discharged on 21 January 1916 as no longer fit for active service. He was granted a Silver War Badge (number 79617) on 6 December 1916. Unfortunately, George died at the age of 33 on 20 June 1918, and is buried in Bilston Cemetery.

Aimee Beddows