Name
George Field
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/08/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
1122
Royal Fusiliers *1
9th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIVERPOOL (KIRKDALE) CEMETERY
Screen Wall IV.C.E.58.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Bushey Town Memorial, Clay Hill, Wesleyan Methodist (now Bushey & Oxhey) Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Born in Bushey in 1891 and christened on 20 September 1891, George Field was the eldest son of George (Snr.) and Kate Harriet (née Allen) Field, both of whom were from established Bushey families. His parents were married on 10 January 1891 at St James’ Church, Bushey, Herts. and made their first home at Carlton Place, London Road, Bushey.
His father was a commercial clerk, who later worked for the London and North Western Railway and his mother was a dressmaker. They had eight children, three of whom died in childhood.
By the time of the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 121, Pinner Road, Watford which became their family home for many years. Their children living there were; Katie (age 8), Maud (age 4) and James (age 1). George, age 9, was not with his parents but living with his uncle and aunt, James and Jane Field, at 108 Villiers Road, Bushey.
When George (Jnr.) left school, he was employed as a decorator.
On the 1911 Census, George (Jnr.) was a decorator aged 19 and was now back living at 121, Pinner Road, Watford with his parents and four siblings; Katie (age 18), Maud (age 14), James (age 11) and Percy (age 1).
Wartime Service
George enlisted as Private 1122 with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, which was raised at Hounslow on 21 August 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army. They underwent training at Colchester and at Aldershot from the 20 February 1915, with the cavalry, motor machine gun battery, sanitary and veterinary sections joining.
The Division proceeded to France between the 29 May and 1 June 1915, landing at Boulogne, with George arriving there with the last cohort on 1 June. He served on the Western Front throughout the war and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
He died of wounds in Liverpool, Lancs. on 1 August 1916, aged 25, and is remembered with honour at the Kirkdale Cemetery in Liverpool. Of the 386 World War I burials in this cemetery, more than 100 are Canadian. About half of the graves from this period are scattered throughout the cemetery and the rest are contained in two plots of graves, where the names of the dead are recorded on Screen Wall panels.
He was entitled to the Victory, British war and 1914-15 Star medals.
He is also commemorated at Bushey and Oxhey Methodist Church and on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
Additional Information
There are articles about George in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 29 July 1916 and 12 August 1916 (including a Death announcement). Unfortunately, George’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. His brother James died 21 October 1918 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
*1 Probably more correctly (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild. Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
