Name
George Hubert Eaton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/03/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHAUNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY BRITISH EXTENSION
III.G.16
France
UK & Other Memorials
Stevenage Old Town Memorial
St Nicholas' Church Memorial, Stevenage Old Town
Holy Trinity Church Memorial Roll of Honour, Stevenage Old Town
Pre War
George was born on the 2nd September 1895, the son of Evelyn Mary Eaton. The family lived at Stevenage Lodge and George had a sister who, at the time of his death, was a renowned violinist. He applied to join the army on the 15th October 1914, at the age of 19 years, having already served three years in the Eton Officer Training Corps. His attestation papers show that he opted for a cavalry regiment, preferably the 19th Hussars. His reasons for wanting to join the cavalry were that he had hunted for several years and had ridden in several steeplechases.
Wartime Service
George was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into his preferred regiment on the 6th July 1916 and received a temporary promotion to Lieutenant on the 29th July. This seemingly rapid promotion gives an indication of the high level of casualties being suffered amongst the officer ranks during the summer of 1916. It was on the 14th August 1916 that George joined the 6th Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps. The exact circumstances of his death are not yet known, however it is recorded that after he was killed his body was buried in a position 1250 yards South of Dampcourt, East of Noyon. A letter sent to his family in October 1920 explains that George was later exhumed and moved to the Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension, France.
Additional Information
www.stevenageatwar.com
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson
