Name
George Frederick Ostick
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
204210
West Yorkshire Regiment
4th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
George Ostick was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Abbots Langley in autumn 1918 and spring 1919. He was initially identified from the Absent Voter Records and was not recorded elsewhere in the Abbots Langley Parish records. In the Absent Voter Records George was listed serving with the 4th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment and his address was given at 6 Marlin Square, Abbots Langley.
George was born at Henfield in Sussex in the winter of 1887. He was one of two sons born to Mark and Clara Ostick. In the 1901 Census the family was recorded living at “Aborfield”, Cotmandene Alms Houses, Dorking. Mark was employed as a Butler Domestic. By 1911 George had moved from the family home and in the Census was shown living as a Boarder with Thomas and Rose Trowell and their four children at Sanyard House, South End, Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire. Thomas Trowell was a Police Pensioner, and at the time George was employed as a Certificated School Master.
When George enlisted at Hertford on 3rd October 1914 he gave his address at St Pancras Schools, Abbots Langley, and his occupation as a School Master. He was posted to the 1st Herfordshire Yeomanry, and attended a Medical on the same day where he was considered of good physical development.
On 10th November 1915 George was appointed Acting Corporal. However in 1916 he was sent to hospital twice, stricken by gonorrhoea. George was admitted to the Royal Herbert Hospital at Woolwich on 25th July 1916 and remained there until 1st August. He was re-admitted, but this time at Oxford from 1st August to 21st October 1916. On 11th April 1917 George was caught breaking in to the Forage Stores and was reprimanded. On 3rd June 1917 he reverted to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal at his own request, and the next day was posted to the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment at Tidworth. George’s Conduct Sheet indicated that he was found to have neglected his duties when in charge of a parade on 15th July 1917, and was reverted to the rank of Private.
George was transferred to the 4th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment at Hartlepool on 25th August 1917, before spending from 9th October to 8th November at the Brighton Grove Military Hospital at Newcastle upon Tyne, once again suffering from gonorrhoea. On 12th December 1917 George was appointed Unpaid Lance Corporal, and on 29th June 1918 attained the rank of Paid Lance Corporal. He was severely reprimanded for “exiting Camp after 9.30pm and remaining absent until he was ordered back to Camp at 12.50am the next day”.
On 26th September 1918 George was called for dental treatment at Louvine Lodge, West Hartlepool, and was given appointments for fillings on 4th,7th, 12th, 17th 21st and 28th October. On 19th December 1918 George was promoted to Acting Corporal, and the next day was appointed Paid Acting Sergeant and was transferred to the Educational Staff at West Hartlepool. He was demobilised at Crystal Palace on 1st April 1919.
George Ostick survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly 2116, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Yeomanry & 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
