Signaller
George Edward Pitcher
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About George Edward

  • Name
    George Edward
  • Initials
    G E
  • Surname
    Pitcher
  • Date of Birth
    2 July 1897
  • Birth town
    Wellingborough
  • Resided town
    Wellingborough
  • Commemorated
  • Nationality
    English
  • Place of death
    Wellingborough
  • Date of death
    22 May 1984
  • Married
    yes
  • Occupation
    Maltster

Service Information

  • Army

  • Service Number
    71333
  • Rank
    Signaller
  • Regiment
    Machine Gun Corps

Biography

Signaller G Pitcher passed through Peterborough East Station on 30 June 1917.  He was travelling with E Tricker and they wrote in the visitors’ book, “Man’s work is from sun to sun, but womans work is never done”.  It is thought that Signaller Pitcher wrote the book entry as there are strong similarities with the signature in his service records.

If so, we believe that this soldier was George Edward Pitcher who was born in Wellingborough on 2 July 1897, to parents Edward and Henrietta Jane (nee Falkner).  In 1901, Georg, aged three, was living with his parents and brother Ernest, aged one, at Butlins Cottages, Irthlingborough, Wellingborough.  His father was a stationary engine driver.  The family had moved to 17 Whitworth Road, Wellingborough by 1911, and his father was by then a maltster’s labourer.

George attested at Bury St Edmunds on 10 December 1915  and joined the Suffolk Regiment.  He gave his address as 17 Whitworth Road, Wellingborough and his occupation as a maltster working for Woolston & Bull, Midland Road, Wellingborough.  He was 19 years 6 months, and was of a slight build, standing at 5ft 1in with a 36in chest.  On 15 June 1916, he transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers and travelled to Boulogne on 23 June 1916, and served in both France and Belgium.  In September 1916, he transferred to Manchester Regiment and later the Machine Gun Corps in December 1916.  He was hospitalised and returned back to England in December 1918 suffering from influenza.  He was demobilised on 7 March 1919.  George was awarded the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

George married Kate Gamble on 22 October 1918, at St Augustine’s Church, Derby.  They had one child, Kenneth, born in 1921.  In 1939 George, Kate and Kenneth were still living at 17 Whitworth Road, Wellingborough.  George was a corn warehouseman and Kenneth a cleaner with London Midland Scottish Railway.

George died in Wellingborough on 2 May 1984, aged 86 years.

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Campaign Medals

The Allied Victory Medal
The British War Medal, 1914-18

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