Name
George Frederick Sales
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
G/4439
Royal Fusiliers
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, St Peter's Church Memorial, Loughborough, Leics.
Pre War
George Frederick Sales was born in Marylebone, London in 1891 to George Frederick Sales, a labourer, and Agnes (nee Faulkner. On the 1891 census the family of parents, Fanny (born 1882) and George were living at 5 Union Street, Marylebone.
On the 1910 Census George was living with his father George Fredrick, stepmother Susan nee at 49 Richmond Street, Marylebone.
On the 1911 Census George was a Butcher living with his father and stepmother at 5 Harrow Street, Marylebone.
George married Phyliss May Bell (later Cox) at St Peter’s church, Loughborough, Leics. on 5 Feb 1918.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for George, He joined the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) as Fusilier (Private) G/4439 presumably sometime in late 1914/ early 1915. Following his training George was posted to 12th (Service) Battalion going to France with them on 1 Sep 1915 to join 17 Brigade, 24 Division. The Division was ordered to be in Reserve at the Battle of Loos but were in action on 24 Sep 1915. In 1916 During the Battles of the Somme the Division was in action at Delville Wood (15 Jul-3 Sep 1916) and Georges was probably wounded as his service with 12th Battalion ended on 31 Aug 1916.
On 15 Mar 1917 George was posted to 22 (Service) Battalion (Kensington), shortly followed by a posting to 4th Battalion, possibly following his promotion to Serjeant (date unknown).
On 9 Apr 1917 He was posted to 4 Battalion Royal Fusiliers in 3 Division taking part in Battles of the Arras Offensive in Apr/May before being deployed to the Ypres Sector for the Battle of Passchendaele particularly Polygon Wood (26 Sep-3 Oct 1917). In early 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive the Battle of St Quentin taking place on 21-23 Mar. George was reported killed in action on the first day (21 Mar). His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £19 10s and arrears of £6 8s 2d was paid to Phyllis M Cox
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
