Name
George William Ives
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/10/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3093
Hertfordshire Regiment
No. 1 Coy. 1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOIS-GUILLAUME COMMUNAL CEMETERY
II. B. 7A.
France
Headstone Inscription
ONE GIFT HE HAD, ONE GIFT HE GAVE, A GIFT THAT MEANT FOR HIM THE SUMMER'S SUN
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Grammar Memorial - now Richard Hale School, Hertford, Hertford Heath Village Memorial. Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Great Amwell memorials
Pre War
George William was born in Great Amwell in 1897 (Christened in Great Amwell on 11 Aug 1897) to George William Ives, bursar’s clerk at Haileybury College, and Florence Jane (nee Hunter).George with his parents, younger brother Wilfred Cyril and younger sister Doris Evelyn were living at College Road, Great Amwell.
On the 1911 Census the family, now with the addition of another sister for William, Freda Marian (born 1903), were still resident at College Road, Great Amwell. He was educated at Hertford Grammar School.
Wartime Service
George enlisted some time in Oct 1914 as Private 3093 in the Hertfordshire Regiment. Following his training he went France on 23 Jan 1915 in a draft of 2 Officers and 195 OR's, joining No 1 Company.
At the Battle of Festubert (18 May 1915) were detailed to be in close support to the Irish Guards in their attack. During this action George was wounded. He returned to duty and the Hertfordshire regiment were repositioned on the Somme. George was taken ill and died on 30 Oct 1916 while under treatment at No 8 General Hospital, Rouen.
Additional Information
His father, Mr G W Ives, Haileybury, Hertfordshire, ordered his headstone inscription: "ONE GIFT HE HAD, ONE GIFT HE GAVE, A GIFT THAT MEANT FOR HIM THE SUMMER'S SUN". War gratuity of £9 and arrears of £5 12s 3d was paid to his father. His brother Wilfred served as Able Seaman J77796 in Royal Navy from 10 Sep 1917 to 15 May 1919 and also in WW2.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Malcolm Lennox, Jonty Wild