Military History

George is listed as being killed in action on 5th November 1914. The 2nd Battalion war diary contains a single entry covering the period 26th October to 17th November which is transcribed below.

Reutel - October 26^th to November 17^th 1914: This position was held by the Battalion till November 17^th when it was relieved by French Troops.

Throughout this period innumerable attacks and demonstrations were made against the line and a great deal of annoyance and loss was caused by the enemy’s snipers & rifle bombs, as well as by their artillery.

The position was improved from day to day, elaborate rifle pits and communication trenches were constructed, wire entanglements & abattis obstacles erected and as so forth. On the other hand the enemy constantly sapped closer and closer to us and in places their trenches were eventually ? 20 yards from our own. Much discomfort was caused by the wet, especially during the latter part, and many of the trenches became waterlogged.

The composition of the line was frequently altered, the troops on either flank being moved repeatedly but the line held by the Battalion remained unaltered throughout this period (Oct 26^th to Nov 17^th).

From October 30^th when the Brigade was ordered to go to with 2 Battalions (Irish & 2^nd Grenadier Guards) to take over another section of the line near Klein Zillebeke, the command of the original Brigade section devolved upon Col Periera and from that date was known as Col Periera’s section.

This section was held consistently by the 2^nd & 3^rd Battalions Coldstream Guards and portions of other units came temporarily under Col Periera command and from Nov 5^th the remnants of 1^st Bn Coldstream were attached, consisting of about 120 NCO’s and men but without officers, though Captain Edwards and 2^nd Lts McNeil and Tollenache joined them from England a few days later.

The casualties of the Battalion from October 25^th to November 17^th were:
Officers:            2 killed
                                5 wounded
Other Ranks: Killed and died of wounds 64
                                Wounded 151
                                Missing 1

During this period the Battalion also lost two officers sick (Lt & Adj A.C. Dawnay & Lt Lord Petre) and 1 accidentally injured (2^nd Lt Viscount Marcham) but against this 1 officer, Lt Rooke, joined from England.