Name
George Wilder
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/11/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14733
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Markyate Village Memorial, St John The Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
Henry George Wilder was born in Markyate in 1894 (baptised 25 may 1894) to Joseph Wilder, agricultural labourer, and Susan (nee Impey).
On the 1901 Census the Family of parents, Lizzie (born 1881), Annie (born 1883), Mary (born 1885), Mabel (born 1888), George, Eva (born 1896), Lily (born 1898) and Ernest (born 1901) were living at High Street, Markyate. Susan and daughters Lizzie, Annie and Mary were all straw hat stitchers.
On the 1911 Census George was employed as a hay porter and was living with his widowed mother Susan, Mabel & Maud, (hat trimmers), Lily, Ernest, Daisy (born 1902),Violet (born 1902) and Grace (born 1907) at 29 High Street, Markyate.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for George. George volunteered some time in late 1914 in Luton for the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 14733.
Following his training he went to France on 11 Aug 1915 in 6th (Service) Battalion joining 37 Division. They took part in one of the last named Battles of the Somme Offensive, The Battle of the Ancre (13 = 18 Nov 1916). The Battle took place over the same ground as Beaumont=Hamel on 1 Jul 1916. George was reported Missing following the initial attack and his death was presumed to have been on 13 Nov although 16 Nov is also mentioned in records, His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Extract from War Diary (6 Battalion), Mailly Mallet via Bertrancourt (13/11), Took part in attacks on Frankfort and Munich Trenches (14/11) and (15/11). Withdrew to Wagon Road (16/11), Engelbelmer via Mailly-Maillet (17/11, To positions between Hamel and Beaucourt (18/11).
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £9 10s and arrears of £6 5s 11d was paid to his mother
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
