Name
George Lewis Reynolds
Circa 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
47518
Royal Fusiliers *1
8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GOUROCK TRENCH CEMETERY, TILLOY-LES-MOFFLAINES
F. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Not on the Royston Memorial
Pre War
George was born around 1887 in Royston, Herts. and christened on 5 June 1887. His parents were George and Emily Ellen Reynolds. We also believe that he was the grandson of Mr Darby, Ickleford Road, Hitchin
Unfortunately, we have not yet found the parents, George and Emily, in the census, however in 1901, their son George (15) was a footman in the Phillips household at Earls Hill House, Bedford Street. Then in 1911, at 25, he was a footman in the Bainbridge family home at Lower Cheam House, Cheam, Surrey.
Officially George was recorded as born in Royston, Herts. and was living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
George was allocated Regimental Number 3647 in the Royal Fusiliers but was later given the Number 47518 and posted to the 8th Battalion of the Regiment which was in the 36th Brigade of the 12th Division. He was killed in action in France.
On the date of his death the Battalion was in support and had plodded up the slope towards Observation Ridge in front of ‘Hamel Work’. The casualties of 42 killed and 119 wounded were not regarded as being heavy in the successful attack which followed. At 10.50am they were digging in on their objective 200 yards from the top of the ridge. The 8th Battalion was positioned just above the Arras/Cambrai Road before the attack at the furthest north of the sector. They were the left support of the Brigade. The men moved off so fast after an intensive barrage that they merged with the assaulting Battalion, the 7th Royal Sussex. The German front line was reached without a single casualty, but two strong-points gave resistance and were outflanked. Brigadier General C.S. Owen wrote to the Battalion Commanding Officer "Please convey my very best congratulations to all ranks who took part in the attack today. They did magnificent work They went forward and carried out their job as if they had been on the practice trenches."
He was buried in Row F, Grave 2 in the Gourock Trench Cemetery, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, south east of Arras in France.
Additional Information
After his death £5 5s 4d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother Emily Ellen Reynolds on 23 December 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £8 was authorised to be paid to her 27 October 1919.
*1 More correctly (City of London) Bn. London Regiment (Post Office Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
