Name
George William English
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/04/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
21464
Canadian Infantry
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Son of the Rev. William Henry (b 1864) and Helen Annie English (b 1898), of Paynton, Saskatchewan. He was born on the 23rd March 1896 in Hitchin.
In 1901 the family were living at 89 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: William Henry (36) and Helen Annie English (34), with William recorded as a private schoolmaster. Their children were: George William (5), Helen Mary (3) and Nora Beatrice (1). Also present was Thomas Howard Lone (20), a cousin and assistant schoolmaster, then Herbert Charles Cannon (12) Cecil Waller Everitt (11) both boarding and Ada Watson (15) a servant
They emigrated to Canada in 1903. A newspaper reporting George’s father’s death in 1956, explained that William had been much impressed when the Bishop of Moosonee toured the English southern counties to interest young Britishers in the prospects of settling in Canada, and was sold on the idea in 1902.
In the Canadian census of 11 July 1906 in the Provence of Saskatchewan, records William and Helen
William and their children: George (b 1896), Helen (b 1898), Norah (b 1900), Winifred (b 1902),, Richard (b 1903),, John (b 1906).
By 1911 the family were living at 37 Lashburn Village, Waseca Village. Present were both parents – Helen was now recorded as Annie, William was now a clergyman. All the children listed above were present plus Thomas (b 1908).
Before enlisting on 23 September 1914 into the 11th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force he was a bank clerk. He enlisted in Valcartier aged 19. His enlistment papers confirm that he was 5’ 10” with a fair complexion with blue eyes and light coloured hair.
Wartime Service
He sailed from Quebec on 3 October 1914. On the 8 February 1915 he was transferred from the 11th Bn. to the 8th Bn. at Larks Hill.
By November 1914 he was reported as being in the Canadian Fusiliers. He had the Regimental Number 21464 in the 8th Battalion (Saskatoon) of the Canadian Infantry which was part of the 1st Canadian Division in the 2nd Army. The 8th Battalion was the Manitoba Regiment and according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission he was killed on the 24th April 1915.
Two days before his death the Canadians had bravely closed a gap in the line caused by the first gas attacks and were involved in severe fighting at St. Julien in the Ypres Salient. In a German gas attack the day before his death the Battalion behaved magnificently and though many were suffocated by gas, they defeated the attack and even gained some ground during the night of the 24th/25th. The line was established north of the hamlet of Fortuin south east of St. Julien despite it having been a day of dreadful muddle, impossible orders and appalling casualties.
He seems to have entered France on 1 April 1915 and been recorded at Ypres from 1 May 1915, went missing action from the trenches near St Julien, and then presumed dead on or since 25 April 1915 – one day later than the CWGC recorded date of death.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panels 24, 26, 28 or 30 of the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
Curiously there is a form in his service records, dated 1 March 1915, assigning George’s pay to Mr J Warren of 121 Whinbush Road, Hitchin, Herts. At present their relationship is not known
After the war his medals and decorations were sent to George’s father and his memorial cross to His mother.
The CWGC records his death as one day earlier than in Canadian official records.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
