Name
George Albert Timson
15 June 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
32171
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Nash Mills, Leverstock Green Village Memorial, Leverstock Green School Memorial
Pre War
George Albert Timson was born on 15 June 1887 in Leverstock Green, the son of George and Elizabeth Timson, and baptised there on 28 August 1887 at Holy Trinity Church. He was one of seven children, although two died in infancy.
On the 1891 and 1901 Censuses, the family were living at the Red Lion Public House where his father was the licensed victualler. His father died in 1908 and by the 1911 Census his mother had taken over the running of the Red Lion and George was working as a Farm Labourer. She died in October 1916 and George's brother Thomas took over as licensee.
George was educated at the village school in Leverstock Green from the age of five and when he left he started work as an Agricultural Labourer, later working for John Dickinson & Co (paper manufacturers) at Nash Mills. He remained working there until enlistment.
Wartime Service
George enlisted under the Derby Scheme (whereby call up could be deferred) in late 1915 and was called up the following March. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment and was sent to Felixstowe for basic training, initially being posted to the 4th Battalion, and was sent to France at the end of 1916 to join the 6th Battalion in mid December.
He saw his first action in the First Battle of the Scarpe on 9 April 1917 (the opening phase of the Arras Offensive), and then fought in the Second Battle of the Scarpe two weeks later. The Battalion suffered heavy shelling and German counter-attacks and over 260 men were killed, wounded or missing at the end of the first day. George was one of those posted as 'missing' and was subsequently confirmed as 'killed in action' on 23 April 1917, aged 29. He has no known grave but his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His brother Thomas received a war gratuity of £4 and pay owing of £3 13s 6d was split between his brother Thomas and sisters, Ethel, Mabel and Ellen. His sister Ethel Edith applied for a pension which was not granted, but received a gratuity of £18 4s.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
google.com/site.leverstockgreenwarmemorial, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.
