Pte 16427 George Kewley

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 27th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Boulogne East Cem
  Panel Ref: IX.A.86

George was born 30th September 1894 and baptised 12th November 1894 at St Peter’s Liverpool. he was the son of Edward Treleaven Kewley and his wife Agnes (nee Owens) who were married 6th June 1888 at St Michael in the Hamlet, Toxteth.

1901 Census - 7 Erith Street, Liverpool - Parents with children Richard O, Wiliam F and George.

1911 Census - 33 Dovey Street, Liverpool - Parents with children Richard and George (office boy)

Prior to the war he was employed by Booth S.S. Co. 

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 2nd September 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of THe King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16427. He gave his age as 19 years and 337 days and his occupation as a clerk. He is described as being five feet seven and a half inches tall, weighing 129lbs with a 35" chest. He is of a sallow complexion with blue eyes and fair hair. His NOK is named as his father Edward Kewley, 26 Buckland St, St Michaels

On 29th April 1915 and the day before the Battalion moved to Belton Park, Grantham George was posted to the City Depot. He was made Unpaid Lance Corporal on 29th April 1916,  then reverts to Private on 1st May 1916 by order of O/C after being drunk.  He embarked 26th July 1916 for Etaples and briefly took up duties with 200 Coy R.E.

George was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 16427 when he was wounded in action on 8th May 1918 with gunshot wound to the arm arm and leg. His leg was amputated the next day. He succumbed to his wounds at 55 General Hospital, Boulogne on 27th May 1918 at 10.50pm.

The death of George was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 15th June 1918:

– Died of Wounds - Private George Kewley who died of wounds on May 27 in his 24th year was the youngest son of Mr & Mrs E Kewley of Liverpool. 

He now rests at Boulogne East Cemetery, France. The inscription on his headstone reads:

“A DEVOTED SON, A TRUE SOLDIER FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH A. AND E. KEWLEY”

Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August 1914 when the Allies were forced to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas.

Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetiere de L'Est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right hand edge of the cemetery. In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen.

During the Second World War, hospitals were again posted to Boulogne for a short time in May 1940. The town was taken by the Germans at the end of that month and remained in their hands until recaptured by the Canadians on 22 September 1944.

Boulogne Eastern Cemetery contains 5,577 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 224 from the Second World War.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Charles Holden.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Agnes

George is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 68

Aigburth Peoples Hall

St Michael in the Hamlet

Booth Line Roll of Honour 

He is also remembered on the family headstone in Toxteth Cemetery which reads:-

In Sacred Memory of GEORGE

The dearly loved son of EDWARD and AGNES KEWLEY

18th Pals K.L.R.

Who died in France of wounds received in action May 27th 1918 in his 24th year

Interred Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne May 29th 1918

This a corner of a foreign field will be for ever England 

His elder brother Richard Owens Kewley received the OBE in 1952, after a career with H.M. Customs

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