Pte 42758 George William Kermode

George William Kermode was born in Kirk Michael, Isle of Man on 30th September 1894, the son of Robert Kermode and Ellen Jane (née Creer), who married in 1890.  They had seven children; George had older siblings Emma and Frank, and younger siblings Robert, Herbert, Elsie, and Fred. He was baptised in Kirk Michael Chapel on 4th November, his parents’ residence listed as Bishops Court, and his father’s occupation farmer.

In 1901 his parents, with three sons, are farming at Ballakinnag, Ballaugh.  His father, 38, is a farmer/employer, his mother is 29, George is 6 (sister Emma is not in the household).

The 1911 census finds George, 16, working as a horseman on the farm of neighbours John and Helena Teare.  His parents, with five of his siblings, are still farming at Ballakinnag.  His father is 49, his mother is 39, Frank is 19, working in the farm, Robert is 11, Herbert 7, Elsie 4, and Fred 1.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 42758 when he was killed in action on the 28^th April 1918 aged 23 during the German Spring Offensive. The events are described in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

George William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. 

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His death was reported in the Isle of Man Times on 1st June 1918:

“Private George William Kermode, King’s Liverpool Regiment (second son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Kermode, Ballakinnag, Ballaugh), was killed in action on April 28th.  Private Kermode, who was in his 23rd year, joined up in June, 1916, and was a year and a half in France.  His eldest brother, Driver Frank Creer Kermode, A.S.C., is at present in France and was recently home on leave.  Before joining up, he was employed by his uncle at Ballafageen, Michael [his father’s younger brother Caesar].”

 

On another page in the same edition, a short article states that George was killed by a bomb while at a rest camp.

 

His father died, aged 59, just three months after George was killed.  His brother Frank survived the war.

 

George’s Army effects and a War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his mother, as well as a pension of 5/- a week from November 1918.

 

His mother lived until 1955, and died at the age of 84.  

 

George is commemorated on the following memorials -

Ballaugh Parish Memorial

The Manx National Memorial, St. John’s, Isle of Man

The Manx Roll of Honour.

 

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