Name
George Coster
16/11/1872
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/06/1915
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Stoker 1st Class
174425
Royal Navy
(RFR/CH/B/3676) Hood Bn. R.N. Div
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 1 and 2.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone, he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the fallen, Turkey. (Gallipoli).
UK & Other Memorials
Chipperfield Village Memorial, St Paul's Church Memorial, Chipperfield, Not on the Rickmansworth Memorial
Pre War
George Coster was born on 16 November 1872, in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, son of Henry Coster, a Shoemaker, and Ann (nee Kemp) Coster, a Laundress. One of four children. (Minnie (B1867 – D1874), (Alice B1870), (Annie B1881).
1881 Census records George aged 8, at school, living with his parents, sisters, Alices 11 & Annie 8 months in, Sarratt, Herts.
In 1883, his father Henry died in, Dawes Lane, Sarratt, Herts.
In the 1891 Census George is working as a Groom, living with his widowed mother and sisters Alice and Annie in, Chaple Croft, Chipperfield, Herts.
On 12 July 1893, George enlisted at Chatham, Kent, in the Royal Navy for 12 years, with the Service Number CH/174425. Seeing service on various Royal Navy ships and Shore Establishment (He was awarded the South Africa Medal). On completion of his service, he transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 20 January 1906.
George married Mable Ellen Kemp the daughter of George and Ellen Kemp, on 26 December 1903, at St Paul’s Church, Chipperfield, Herts. They would go on the have four children two would die in infancy.
The 1911 Census records George as married to Mable and they have one child Muriel aged 2, living in, The Common, Chipperfield, Herts. He was employed as a Farm Labourer.
Wartime Service
George was mobilised from the Fleet Reserve on 17 September 1914, for war service with the service number RFC/CH/B/3676, and posted to the Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division - The Royal Naval Division was formed from Royal Navy and Royal Marine Reservists and Volunteers who were not required for service at sea. The Division fought at Antwerp in 1914 and Gallipoli in 1915, the Hood Battalion, distinguished itself in Gallipoli. Following many loses amongst the original Reservists and Volunteers the Division was transferred to the British Army as the 63rd (Royal Naval Division).
He was Killed in Action during the third Battle of Krithia on 4 June 1915, aged 40, he was originally listed as missing in action, but later confirmed as killed on that date. He is Commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the fallen in Turkey, (Gallipoli).
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
