Name
George Dyer
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/10/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
5580
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LONSDALE CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE
X. B. 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford,
Marlowes Baptist Church, Marlowes
Pre War
George Dyer was born in Hemel Hempstead, Herts in 1891, the son of Harriet Dyer, his birth being registered between July and September. '
On the 1901 Census he was living at 76 Bury Road with his mother and aunt with his mother working as a bootmaker. She married widower Harry Bates in 1902, who had four children, Percy, Harry, Archie and Bertha and on the 1911 Census, the family were living at Lyndhurst, Bennetts End Lane, Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead. George was working as a Malster's Labourer at that time and prior to enlistment worked at Apsley Mills. His mother and stepfather later had two more children, Ethel and Edward.
Wartime Service
George enlisted in Hertford and initially joined the 3rd Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. After basic training he was sent to France in early April 1916 and posted to the 1st Battalion.
He saw action in the trenches in the area around Festubert, France for the next few months.
He was killed in action by a shell at the Somme on 14 October 1916 during the Battle of the Ancre Heights. Originally, he was buried in the Paisley Avenue Cemetery but this was later concentrated, with nine other soldiers, into the Lonsdale Cemetery, Authille, France, where his grave is now located.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £3 10s and pay owing of £3 8s 8d. She also received a pension of 7 shillings a week from 1 May 1917.
Stepbrother of Archibald Claude Bates who served in the Northamptonshire Regiment and died 20 October 1917. Stepbrothers Percy and Harry also saw service in the war but survived.
A memorial service was held at Marlowes Baptist Church on 29 October 1916 for George Dyer and seven other members of the congregation who had been killed.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org,, www.hemelheroes.com.
