Name
Archibald John George
28 February 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3005
East Surrey Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 6 B and 6 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor, Not on the Apsley End memorials
Pre War
John Archibald George (known as Archie) was born on 28 February 1894 in Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of William and Ellen George. He was baptised on 25 March at St Mary's Church, Hemel Hempstead and was one of 12 children although two died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 46 Weymouth Street, Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, when his father was working as a Road Man (labourer) and Archie was the youngest of 7 children living at home.
The family later lived at 3 Caitlin Street, Boxmoor, Herts and prior to enlistment Archie worked for Hertfordshire County Council
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford, Herts in October 1914, joining the East Surrey Regiment, and was posted to the 11th (Service) Battalion at Devonport for basic training. The Battalion then moved to Dartmouth in December and in April 1915 the 11th became a Reserve Battalion and moved to Colchester. He was then posted to the 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment and sent to France on 25 August 1915.
Archie saw action with the Battalion in trenches south of Albert for the next few months and then were ready for the assault on Montauban Ridge, on the first day of the Battle of Albert. Montauban Ridge was taken successfully but eight officers and 125 other ranks were killed and five officers and 400 other ranks wounded, largely because of 'heavy machine gun fire'.
Archie was killed in action on 1 July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of Albert. A letter published in the local newspaper from his commanding officer said that he was shot through the head and died instantly and described him as "one of my three best men, and one who I had marked out for promotion, being a fine soldier and a brave man."
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £8 and pay owing of £10 5s 2d. His mother received a pension of 5 shillings a week. N.B. Although his birth was registered as John Archibald George, he was known as Archie and on military records he is often listed as Archibald John George.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelatwar.org., www.dacorumheritage.org.uk.,www.hemelheroes.com.
