Name
George Sexton
1/12/1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/12/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
10664
Gloucestershire Regiment
10th (Service Bn.)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 5A and 5B
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Goff's Oak Memorial, Cheshunt Town Memorial, Memorials to the Railwaymen who Died in the Great War
Pre War
George Sexton was born on 1st December 1889, in Norwood, Surrey, son of John Sexton a Baker & Grocer and Clara Ada Sexton (nee Pulham). One of nine children although two died in infancy.
1891 Census records George aged 1, living with his parents and brothers John Jr. (4), William (3) and Harry (1 month) at 28 Barnfield Road, Lambeth, London. The family had a live-in Domestic Servant.
1901 census now shows George (11) and the family now living at 5, Lordship Road, Cheshunt, Herts, with his 6 brothers and sister Ada (9). His father is recorded as a Dairy Farmer.
George attended St Mary’s Infants school, Cheshunt, from November 1894 to June 1897, when he transferred to Dewhurst Endowed Boys School leaving in July 1903, aged 13, to go to work.
In 1906, George aged 16, joined the Great Eastern Railway Company as an Engine Cleaner, later Acting Fireman and promoted to Fireman in late 1911.
In 1910 George married Mable Alice Walker of Stratford, in West Ham, London, they went on to have three children, Mable Ada Jane, George Edward John and Henry Charles Thomas.
In 1911, his family had moved a short distance into 3 Eveline Villas, Cromwell Avenue, Cheshunt, Herts, George was boarding at 8, Norfolk Road, Buntingford, Herts, and was an Acting Fireman on the railway, and shown as married, his wife Mable and daughter Mable (2 months) were living with Mable’s mother widow Jane Walker at 18 Quebec Street, Stratford, London.
At some time, George moved to 125, Chobham Road, Stratford, London, with his wife Mabel and family.
Wartime Service
George enlisted at Stratford, London, in August 1914, posted to the 7th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, with the service number 10664. On completion of his training George and his Battalion sailed from Avonmouth on 19th June 1915, for Alexandria from there to Mudros to prepare for a landing at Gallipoli. Landing on Cape Helles between 6th & 16th July 1915.
He was later transferred to the 10th Battalion at some stage and returned to the Western Front. Later promoted to Lance Corporal.
George was Killed in Action on 19th December 1916, aged 26, he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, to the missing.
Additional Information
Mable received a widow’s pension of £1-6s-3d, a week from 9th July 1917, and his effects of £1-3s-7d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £10.
In June 1997 Broxbourne Borough Council received a suggestion from the Chairman of Goff's Oak Community Association to name roads to commemorate the men who lost their lives in the two world wars that are displayed on the Goff's Oak War Memorial. It was decided that these names should be used for the large development in Hammond Street Road, this soldiers has one of the surnames chosen: “Sexton Close” – the reason for the names selected (as opposed to others) is not known.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Brian Lodge
