Name
George Albert Govier
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/01/1917
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
PO/17544
Royal Marine Light Infantry
1st Bn. Royal Naval Division
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
XXI.B,15
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial, St. Mary’s Church Memorial, Rickmansworth, Not on the Watford memorials(*1)
Pre War
George was born in Watford on the 20th of September 1898 and baptised at St Mary's Church, Watford on the 4th of January 1899, the son of George Alfred and Elizabeth(nee Harris) Govier. His father was a Farrier and in 1901 the family was living Rose Cottage, 4 Norfolk Road, Rickmansworth. In 1911, now with three children, they were at 79 Norfolk Road.
Recorded as enlisting in London.
Wartime Service
The Royal Marines were part of the Royal Naval Division which landed in Belgium in 1914 to help defend Antwerp, took part in the amphibious landings at Gallipoli in 1915, and later served on the Western Front.
George served at Gallipoli where he was hospitalised on the 28th of February 1915 suffering from exhaustion and fever. Here joined his unit on the 23rd of December 1915.
The Royal Naval Division went to France in May 1916 and George incurred his fatal wounds on the 13th of November 1916 when he was hit in the left thigh fracturing the femur. This happened during an attack at the Battle of Ancre in the mist and fog at Beaucourt during the Allied offensive on the Somme.
George died in the 4th General Hospital at Dannes-Camiers near Boulogne on the 15th of January 1917. Reported as Acting Corporal.
Additional Information
*1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Watford. This may be the case, however Watford was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
