GEORGE FLOWER 1887–1957

Photograph by kind permission of family

Brother of Harold, Herbert, William, Fred and Sam

Born 13th November 1887, Holme Pierrepont

Baptised 18th December 1887 St Edmund’s Church, Holme Pierrepont

Married February 5th 1916 to Edith Ellen Holland at Bognor

Died in 1957

1891 Census

Age 3 living with father William, age 29, a groom and gardener, mother Agnes and sisters Mary Ann 6 and Olive, 1, in Holme Pierrepont.

1901 Census

Age 13 employed as agricultural farm boy living with father William, mother Agnes, sisters Mary Ann 16, Olive 11 and brothers William 9, Fred 7, Harold 5, Herbert 3, and Sam, 1. They lived on Main Road, Radcliffe on Trent.

1911 Census

Age 22, single, a Private with the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, employed as Officer’s servant, stationed at Wellington Barracks, St James Park, Westminster.

Military Service before August 4th 1914

Enlisted: 7  November 1908 at Caterham, 2nd Bn, Grenadier Guards, terms of service 3-9 years

Age when enlisted: 19 years 11 months

Occupation: farm labourer

Height 5ft 7⅛ins, weight 140lbs, girth 36½ins, range of expansion 2 ins, complexion fresh, brown eyes, dark brown hair. Distinguishing marks: 2 small scars on left buttock. Religion: Church of England.

November 1908 Caterham and March 1909 London

Obtained a 3rd class Certificate of Education 9 November 1909

Extended service to complete 7 years with the colours

Military service 1914-1919

Rank: Guardsman

Service Number: 2604172, previously 14061

Military Unit: 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards by end of war, previously 5th Reserves, formerly 2nd Battalion.

Theatre of War: France and Flanders, date of entry 6.4.15

6.4.1915: Transferred to 1st Battalion from 4th (Reserve) Battalion

6.4.15: Expeditionary Force France

15.7.15: To HQ 5th Brigade from 2nd Battalion, as servant to Lieutenant Colonel Corkran

1.2.16- 9.2.16: Leave

29.5.16- 6.6.16: Leave

22.2.17: Transferred to 5th (Reserve) Battalion on arrival in England (not a casualty), where he remained for a year

23.4.18: Transferred to General Base depot, embarked Folkestone

23.4.18: Disembarked Boulogne

23.4.18: Arrived ‘J’ Dept. Etaples

27.4.18: Joined 1st Battalion in the field

18.7.18: To 5th Battalion HQ

6.3.19: Transferred to 183 Infantry Brigade

13.5.19: In 2nd Battalion

10.7.19: Transferred to England

17.7.19: Transferred to Section B Army Reserve on demobilisation

6.11.20: Discharged on termination of first period of engagement

Total service 12 years; “Exemplary character”.

Medals Awarded: 1914-1915 Star, British War and Victory, Good Conduct Badge.

Other information

His military records have conflicting information about medals awarded. His service records state he entered France 6.4.15 and received the 1914-1915 Star. His medal card states he entered France on 12th August 1914, received the 1914 Star and the 1914-1915 Star was returned as a duplicate. According to Forces War records the 2nd Bn, Grenadier Guards were:

04.8.14 Stationed at Chelsea as part of the 4th (Guards) Brigade of the 2nd Division.
15.8.14 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and the Division engaged in various actions on the Western Front including; The First Battle of Ypres after which only 4 officers and 140 men remained of the Battalion.
20.8.15 Transferred to the 1st Guards Brigade of the Guards Division and engaged in various actions on the Western Front.

George Flower returned to France in 1918 with the 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards. They saw action in 1918 at:
The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras 1918, The Battle of Albert, The Second Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Havrincourt, The Battle of the Canal du Nord, The Battle of Cambrai 1918, The pursuit to the Selle, The Battle of the Selle, The Battle of the Sambre.

In view of the fact that his military service record states, in handwriting, that he entered France in 1915 and received the 1914-1915 Star, we are assuming he received the 1914-1915 Star until further confirmation of a possible 1914 Star becomes available.

Address after marriage: 18 Argyle Terrace, Argyle Road, Bognor, Sussex

1921 Census

Address: Epping Green, Little Berkhampstead, Herts

Employment: Groom, Sir B Henderson, Civil Engineer

Household: wife Edith

1939 Register

Address: 36 The Brickyard, Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent

Occupation: general labourer

Air Raid Precautions warden –  demolition

Household: living with wife Edith

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Lived in Radcliffe on Trent.