Name
George Herbert Negus
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/01/1918
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
4/7349
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
III. G. 18
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Great Offley Village Memorial
Pre War
Son of James and Mary Negus (née West); husband of Constance Mary Negus (nee West), of Mill Cottage, Offley, Hitchin, Herts. he was born either at Offley or at Northall near Royston, Herts – this maybe Northall Farm near Heydon, Cambs. on the 8th July 1888.
In 1891 the family were living at Barley Road, Great Chishall, Cambs., Hitchin. Present were both parents: James (41) and Mary (41), with James working as an agricultural labourer. Their children were: William (19), Agnes (13), Frederick (11), Bertha (9), Nellie (6), George D (3) and Albert Edward (3 months).
George was educated at St Ippolyts.
By 1901 the family were living at St Ippolyts, near Hitchin. Present were both parents and children George (12), Albert (10) and Emily (6). James was now working as a railway labourer.
School and was a farm labourer at the time he enlisted at Hitchin on the 19th of October 1914 when living in Offley.
He married Constance Mary (née Read) on the 8th December 1907 at Offley. Their home was at Mill Cottage, Offley. They had four children: Maurice Charles, born 12th of September 1908, Tyrell James born 4th April 1911, Herbert Allan born 25th December 1917 and Laura Isabel born 21st June 1913 (S.165).
Wartime Service
His Regimental Number was 4/7349 and he was promoted to a Corporal. He served in the 8th Bedfords and went to France on the 18th August 1915 and he died in the 1st South African General Hospital at Abbeville in France on the 27th January 1918, after being severely wounded four times according to the Parish Magazine.
From the Hertfordshire Express, dated 16th of February 1918:
"After being wounded five times in action, Corporal George Negus, Beds. Regiment, has died in hospital in France, the official news being received by his wife last week, her home being at Mill-cottages, Offley. He received his fatal wounds on November 20th. He had spent about twelve months in various hospitals, having been twice badly wounded before. He went to France two years ago last August. Before enlisting he was cowman for Mr. Cook at Hoo Farm."
According to his National Roll of the Great War entry, which is not always 100% correct, he fought at Festubert, Loos and Arras and was killed in action (we believe wounded) near Cambrai.
Additional Information
His pension cards also mention his brother, who died, George, and record their mother, as their dependant and living at 1 Taylors Cottages, Old Park Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 12s 6d a week from 29 April 1918 to 15 July 1919. This appears to have been renewed until 15 July 1920, but there is no information after that. At some later date the address was updated to !3 Dacre Road, Hitchin.
George was the brother of Albert Edward Negus who died at Adara, Iraq from typhoid fever, on the 7th of February 1918. Albert is on the Hitchin Town Memorial and in the St Mary's Church Memorial Book.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Adrian Dunne
