No.7389, Sergeant, George William HART
Aged 26
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George Henry HART was born in Dalham (Newmarket Q4-1889 3B:526), son of William Henry and Mary Elizabeth HART (née IVERSON). The birth entry is for
George Henry but the reference appears to be 626. The hand written amendment also has George Henry but 3B:526.Only CWGC have his middle name as William and
the memorial has G.W.Hart.
1891 census...Appears to be the HART family in Snailwell Road, Exning. William Hart [25] a shepherd, wife Mary [22], sons John [4] and George [1]. All are however recorded as born in Swaffham Prior His mother died and father married Sabina Howard in 1893. 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at Church Road, Cockfield with his father [36], step-mother Sabina (née HOWARD) [29] born Thorpe Morieux; brothers John [14] (shepherd's page) born Swaffham ;sister Dorothy [6]; brothers Harold [3] and Manfred [1], the three new siblings born in Cockfield 1911 census...Aged 23, he was with the Suffolk Regiment at Mustapha Pasha Barracks, Alexandria, Egypt. At Risby were his father, step-mother, half sister Lily [6] born Cockfield; half brothers Sidney [3] and Arthur [1] both born Risby CWGC have his father as William Henry HART, living at 114 Westley Bottom, Newmarket. He appears not to have married since his father is given as sole legatee. The pension card has his father at Lark Hall Heath, Six Mile Bottom, nr Newmarket. |
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He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds on 10th March 1906, No.7154 in the Militia (3rd Suffolk), giving his age as 17 years 9 months, a page (shepherd's help) born in Dalham
, residing at Mill Cottage, Cockfield, working at Cockfield Hall for F Jennings. He was 5 feet 7 inches (170.2 cm) tall, weighed 113 lbs (51.4 kg), chest 30" to 33.5" (76.2 to 85.1 cm), grey eyes,
light brown hair and Church of England. Accepted as fit on 12th March, he joined the regular Suffolk Regiment on 13th September 1906 ( which would have been when his Army number changed to 7389). His documents show his father as William, mother Sabina, of Mill Cottage, Cockfield. Unfortunately that is all that has survived of his records. Earlier in the war he had served in the 2nd Battalion. The war diary from 9th April to 9th May 1915 appears to have gone missing, so we must use Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment":- April 22nd was the first real use of gas by the Germans. On the night of 23rd/24th the battalion went back into reserve between Frenzenberg and Verlorenhoek, no billets, they had to bivouack under hedges. On the morning of 24th they were put to work digging in on the ridge astride the Ypres-Zonnebeke road. An officer appeared from Division to say the 1st Suffolks and 12th Londons were to advance northward, adding the Germans had broken through and only these two battalions stood between the Germans and Ypres. Catpain Balders sought advice from Brigade and was given authority to advance and try top establish a base in the ruins of FORTUIN. As soon as they set out the enemy barrage increased. On the way to FORTUIN, they came across a hard pressed Canadian unit and the decision was made to assist them. Being made aware that the Germans were already in St Julien. "A" and "B" Companies reinforced the Canadian left flank, whilst the rest took up a position covering FORTUIN, the 12 London being on the right.After digging all night the Suffolk who were put in the open managed to construct a fire trench over 4 feet deep with traverses. CWGC put the deaths in the 1st Suffolks on 24th at 50, only 6 have known graves.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
