Name
George Leonard Sherwood
26 September 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265294
Hertfordshire Regiment
(2127), 1st/1st Bn., attached 8th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Norton, Church of St Nicholas Lychgate, Norton, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Baldock memorials
Pre War
George Leonard Sherwood was born on 26th September 1894 in Norton Village, Herts, the second son of John Leonard and Ellen Sherwood. He was one of seven children, although two died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living in Norton Village, where his father was working as an engine driver (locomotive). As a boy he was a pupil at St Nicholas Church of England School in the village and also attended the Church. They remained in Norton in 1911 and were then living in Church Lane, at which time, 16 year old George was working as a milk roundsman.
He joined the Territorial Army on 13th March 1913 and served with the reg. no. 2127. He was living at Church Lane, Norton at the time of enlistment and worked as a turner for Messrs Ewart and Son Ltd.
His parents later lived at 87 Norton Road, Letchworth.
Wartime Service
In August 1914, George was at the 1st/1st Battalion’s Summer Camp in Ashridge Park, Herts when the Battalion was ordered to mobilize. Each soldier was given an Embodiment Document instructing them to report to Company Headquarters in Hertford by noon on the 5th August 1914. He and his Company left Royston station on the 4th to do just that.
On 1st November 1914 the Battalion received orders to prepare to embark on 5th November and they left Southampton on board the SS City of Chester arriving at Le Havre, France, the next morning. The following days were engaged in preparations for deployment and new short rifles were issued.
In late August 1915 the Battalion moved into bivouac at Gorre to dig a new communication trench, with this task lasting until the end of the month. Early September found Companies spread at Cuinchy, Cambrin Support Point, Maison Rouge and Annequin.
The Battalion then moved into trenches in Z2 Section from 8th to 12th September relieving The King’s Royal Rifles. During this time Casualties were one killed and four wounded. George was one of the wounded as his Casualty Report is dated 10th September 1915. George returned to England to recover from a leg wound but once recovered he was sent back to the Front and attached to the 8th Gloucestershire Regiment in July 1916.
On 4 August 1916 he was reported missing. His father John Sherwood of 4 Smallholdings, Church Lane, Norton was reported in the Citizen newspaper saying he hadn't heard from him and he was reported missing. It was later determined that he was killed in action on 31 July 1916, aged 21. George has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His parents jointly received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £3 12s 4d. Pension cards exist which suggest a pension was paid to his mother but the amount is not clear.
It is believed that the G F Sherwood that appears on the regimental memorial is this man. Service number 265294 or possibly 265204. A more detailed biography for the man appears in the sites Archive at: http://www.hertsatwar.co.uk/archives/hertfordshire-men-women-individuals-stories/george-leonard-sherwood-biography/
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Dan Hill, Ellen Barnes, Jonty Wild
