Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

George Elston was born in Wortley, in the parish of Holbeck, Leeds on 6 June 1896, the sixth of nine children born to Caroline and Samuel Elston (horse keeper). The 1901 Census listed the family’s address as 31 Oswald Grove, Wortley. Samuel died in 1905, and on the 1911 Census Caroline is listed as a tobacco and sweet dealer and George, aged 14, was a shop assistant.

George enlisted in the Royal Artillery on 10 December 1915, and at the time resided with his mother and four of his siblings at 4 Lord Street, New Wortley, Leeds.  His enlistment records lists him as 5ft 4 ½ inches tall, weighing 126 lbs and he is described as having flat feet.

He was posted on 29 December 1915 to No. 1 Depot Royal Field Artillery for basic training. By May 1916, George was stationed at Norwich and his records state that he was reprimanded for ‘loitering while on active service’ and awarded ‘extra duties’.

George passed through Peterborough and signed the visitors’ book on 27 July 1916. He was with the 38^th Reserve Battery, 1^st C Reserve Brigade and stationed at Cavalry Barracks, Norwich.

George was posted to Salonika from 7 September 1916 to 12 July 1919, when he was repatriated home and formally discharged on 11 September 1919.

George married Ada Marsh on the 9 January 1926, at St. Matthias Church, Burley, West Yorkshire. He was residing at 37 Haddon Place, Leeds and employed as a salesman.  On the 1939 Register, George is listed as a pawnbroker’s assistant and living at 88 Simpson Grove, Leeds with his wife Ada and son Jack, born on 14 May 1930.

George died in December 1972, in Lower Agbrigg, West Yorkshire.

Please get in touch if you can tell us more about George and his family.