Name
George Coles
5 Jul 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/02/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1755
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CUINCHY COMMUNAL CEMETERY
II. B. 21.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Heath Village Memorial, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Little Amwell, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
(David) George was born in Little Amwell on 5 July 1895 (baptised 24 Aug 1895) to Frederick Coles, a labourer, and Harriet (nee Saville).
On the 1901 Census George was living with his family consisting of parents, elder brothers Frederick J (employed as a house boy), Charles, Alfred and Thomas and sisters Daisy, Lily and Rose at 20 London Road, Little Amwell. Charles father died in 1903. On the 1911 Census, still at 20 London Road, Charles was employed as butler/college manservant (as was Alfred, Frederick J was a labourer, Thomas was a butcher’s assistant, George was working as a farm labourer, Daisy was a housemaid with Lily and Rose at school.
George joined the Hertfordshire Regiment in the Territorial Force as Private 1755 in autumn 1911.
Wartime Service
George would have had to volunteer to serve overseas with 1st Battalion when they went to France on 6 Nov 1914.
The 1st were embodied in 4th (Guards) Brigade of 2nd Division on 20 Nov 1914 and took part in the usual trench routine before being deployed to Bethune area on 23 Dec 1914. Following Germans attacks at Givenchy and Cuinchy the 1st were in the Front Line and No 1 Company lost 2 men killed in action on 3 Feb 1915, George Coles and George Lewis.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £6 12s 11d was paid to his Mother. Brother Charles Henry served with 6th Battalion Bedfordshires and was killed in action on 25 Jul 1916. Brother Frederick served with 7th Battalion Bedfordshires and was killed in action on 24 March 1918.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
