Pte 49022 George Barlow

• Age: 20
• From: Salford
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 21st December 1916
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

George was born on  the 21st June 1896 the son of William Barlow and his wife Lydia (nee Waddington) who married in St Paul's Church, Hulme on the 16th February 1895. William is shown as a butcher while Lydia is shown as a weaver.

George was baptised on the 26th July 1896 in St Bartholomew's Church in Salford. He had a younger sister Madeleine.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 17 West Stanley Street, Salford. George is 4 years of age and is living with his parents and sister Madeleine H. aged 1. His father is shown as 33 year old journeyman butcher, born in Hulme, whilst his mother is 39 years of age and was born in Leeds. 

By 1911 the family are living at 6 Bigland Street, Salford. George is now 14 years of age and an apprentice moulder in an iron foundry. He lives with his parents and 11 year old sibling Madeleine Harriet. His father is now employed as a dock labourer. 

George enlisted in the 15th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers as Private 10346. He subsequently transferred to the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 49022.

He was killed in action on the 21st December 1916, aged 20. 

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

His effects were sent to his Mother.

We currently have no further information on George Barlow, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.