Pte 52227 George William Mellor

• Age: 21
• From: Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

George William Mellor was born on the 28th April 1896 in Didsbury, Manchester the son of William and Maria Mary (née Washington) Mellor who were married on the 8th July 1891 at Christ Church, Didsbury. He was baptised on the 10th June 1896 also at Christ Church, his father a nurseryman of 17 Moor St, West Didsbury.  

George was educated at Cavendish Road School, Didsbury. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 17, Moor Street, Withington, Chorlton.

The father William aged 37, born 1864 is a florist (gardener) and was born in Didsbury. His wife Mary is aged 30, born 1871 with no occupation listed. They have three children at the time of the Census, Ada aged 8, born 1893, Dora aged 6, born 1895 and George William aged 4, born 1897.

His father died aged 44 in 1908. 

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 17 Moor St, West Didsbury, Manchester. 

The mother, Mary, is a widow aged 40, born 1871 in Ketley Bank, Salop occupation washing domestic. She had been married for 19 years and had six children of which one had died. Those listed as living in the household are: Ada aged 18, born 1893 a day worker domestic, George William aged 14, born 1897 is an apprentice plumber, Ruth aged 5, born 1906 and Mary Emma aged 2, born 1907. The children all born in Didsbury. Dora born 1895 had left the family home by the time of the 1911 Census and working as a servant at 110 Burton Road West Didsbury. 

George enlisted in Manchester and was formerly Private 3496, Manchester Regiment but following a transfer he was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 52227 when he was killed in action on the 23rd July, 1917 aged 21.  

 19th Battn. War Diary in the area of MUNCQ NIEURLET. 

CANAL RESERVE CAMP.  

23rd July 1917 - During the longer part of the day the Battalion rested, a few parades being held during the morning under Company arrangements. In the evening the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Battalion of the Royal West Kents. 

TRENCHES. 

24th July 1917 - Relief was complete by 3.15 a.m. During the day the artillery on both sides were very active, special attention being paid by the enemy to the front and support lines. A few shells also dropped in RITZ STREET and in the vicinity of Battalion headquarters (DORMY HOUSE). 

According to the battalion War Diary, on the evening of 23rd July, the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Bn Royal West Kents. It is highly likely that George was killed by shellfire during the relief. 

His body was not recovered, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, at Ypres in Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £4 4s 2d, war gratuity £10, and a pension of 7/6 pw went to his mother Mary.    

He is also commemorated on the St Mary's School, Didsbury (Site formerly St Lukes Mission Hall, which closed in 1982.)

Manchester Evening News - Friday 23 July 1920 

MELLOR - In loving memory of my only son Pte. GEORGE WM. MELLOR, killed in France, July 23, 1917. Always remembered by his loving MOTHER and SISTERS. - 17 Moor Street, West Didsbury. 

His mother died aged 83 on the 9th October 1953. 

Manchester Evening News - Saturday 10 October 1953 

MELLOR - On Oct 9, at 17 Moor Street, Didsbury, MARIA MARY, aged 83 years, the dearly-loved wife of late William MELLOR and dear mother of Ada, Dora and Ruth. Service at St Luke’s Church at 10.15 a.m., prior to interment at Southern Cemetery on Tuesday Oct 13, at 10.45 a.m. 

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

Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919 have George William Mellor as Private 32227 and his date of death as the 22nd July, 1917.