Name
George Gentle
5th September 1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/07/1916
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
87799
Royal Engineers
117th Railway Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SALONIKA (LEMBET ROAD) MILITARY CEMETERY
188
Greece
Headstone Inscription
Blessed are they that rest in the Lord
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, St Faith's Church War Memorial, Walsworth, Baldock Town Memorial St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
George (junior) was born around 5th September 1885 in Baldock and christened on 4 October 1885 his parents were George and Elizabeth Gentle (née Castle). They married on 13 April 1873.
In 1891 the family were living at Norton End, Norton. Present were both parents: George (38) and Elizabeth (41), with George (senior) and working as a platelayer. Their children were: Ellen (15), Willie (13), Johnney (8), George (5), Florence (4) and Alice (1). Elizabeth’s grandfather, Jacob Castle (62) was also present.
In 1901 the family were still living at the same location. Present were both parents, George (senior) still a platelayer for GNR. Their children were: George Gentle, now 15 and working as a bricklayer’s labourer, Alice, Oswell (7) and Rose (6).
Daughter
George married Lizzie (b 3 May 1887) - either Chalkley or Burns in Hitchin in 1906 – it is believed that the former is more likely.
By 1911 the George and Lizzie were living at Turnpike, Royston Road, Baldock, Herts., with George working as a labourer for a maltsters. The census recorded they had been married for 4 years with 3 children, all living. Those children were George Thomas (4), Victoria Mary (3) and Francis Lizzie (1).
Officially George was recorded as enlisting in London.
Wartime Service
After joining the army he was a member of the 117th Railway Company and his Service Number was 87799. He arrived in Egypt on the 15th September 1915 and went to Salonika where he suffered heat stroke and later died of malaria.
He was buried in Grave 188, Salonika (Lembet Rd) Military Cemetery in Greece.
Additional Information
After his death £3 14s 11d was authorised to go to his widow, Lizzie, on 12 October 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £4 10s was authorised to be paid to her, on 20 September 1919.
His pension cards record Lizzie, his widow, as his next of kin, living at Ivy Cottage, Orchard Rd., Walsworth, Hitchin. The card also lists the following children George Thomas (b 27/10/1906), Doris Victoria Mary (b 7/11/1907), Frances Lizzie (b 2/9/1909) and Phyllis May (b 20/1/1914). She was awarded a pension of 22s 6d a week from on 22 January 1917, amended to 20s 9d on 4 April 1017.
A private inscription on the stone reads "Blessed are they that rest in the Lord", this was ordered by his widow, Lizzie Gentle, of Ivy Cottage, Orchard Rd., Walsworth, Hitchin, Herts.
Lizzie remarried on 16 February 1918, marrying Arthur William Watson a railway platelayer. She then received a ren=marriage gratuity of £35 7s 2d, with a reduced pension paid to her for the children until they were 16.
Not to be confused with 20074 George Gentle of Baldock, who served and survived.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, Adrian Pitts, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
