Name
George Edward Griffin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/04/1915
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
8104
Bedfordshire Regiment
'C' Company, 1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford,
St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of George Edward and Mary (nee PLANT) GRIFFIN; husband of Jessie Grace (nee EDWARDS) GRIFFIN of Watford.
His parents married 1888 in the Colchester, Essex, district. Mary died 1903 in Watford aged 36, and was buried [as Maud] 4 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; George died 1936 in Watford aged 69, and was buried 16 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
George was born 26 July 1888 in Colchester, and attended first Sotheron Road Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 28 January 1895 to 10 October 1901, and again from 25 March to 28 July 1902. He married 1913 in the Watford district, and resided in Watford. Jessie remarried 1920 in the Watford district to Albert E CROOK, she died 1978 in Watford aged 90, and was buried 4 January 1979 in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Aldershot, Hants, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, aged 12 he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Private in the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment aged 24, he was stationed in Aldershot.
Wartime Service
He originally joined the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, at Hertford aged 15, and subsequently enlisted in Watford.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 16 August 1914, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is an article about George in the Watford Illustrated dated 1 May 1915; plus In Memoriams in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 22 April 1916 and 21 April 1917.
His brother William died 10 September 1914 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Unfortunately, George’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
