Pte 306287 George Strickland

• Age: 25
• From: Hardhorn, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 8th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Prospect Hill Cem, Gouy
  Panel Ref: IV.B.14

Henry Strickland married Mary Agness Parkinson in 1887.  George was the middle of nine children, and the eldest son.  He had older sisters Jane, born in 1887, Agnes 1889, Mary 1890, and Margaret 1892.  His younger siblings were Edith 1896, Thomas 1900, Nellie 1902 (died in infancy), and Nora 1904.

He was baptised at St Chad's Church, Poulton Le Fylde on 06th August 1893. His father was described as a Drayman.  

In 1891, before George’s birth, the family was living at Brewery Cottages in Hardhorn, his father, is aged 23, born in Staining, Blackpool and employed as a drayman, his mother, Mary, is aged 25, with children Jane 4, Agnes 2 and Mary 7 months.

The 1901 Census finds the family still living at Brewery Cottages, Hardhorn with Newton, Fylde. His father, Henry, is a Brewers drayman born at Hardhorn in 1869 whilst his mother, Mary Agnes, was born in 1866 also at Hardhorn. George is 8 years old, his siblings, all born at Hardhorn are listed as; Jane b.1887, Mary A. b.1889, Mary b.1891, Margaret b. 1892, Edith b.1896 and Thomas b.1900. 

By 1914 his parents have moved to 18 William Street, Blackpool.

George enlisted in Blackpool. SDGW shows that George was living in Warton (north of the Ribble east of Lytham) when he enlisted. His regimental number is consistent with a series issued to the 7th Bn. King’s Liverpool Regiment, but his medal roll, showing service overseas, lists him initially with the 2/8th Bn. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for nearly four years, enlisting in about November 1914.  However, a medal roll for the 1914-1915 Star has not been found. The 2/8th arrived in France in February 1917, part of the 171st Brigade, 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division.

At some point he was posted to the 14th K.L.R., 65th Brigade, 22nd Division.  They landed at Boulogne in September 1915 and shipped to Salonika that November. They moved to France in June 1918 and on 23rd July 1918 were attached to the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. The battalion was absorbed by 18th Battalion K.L.R. on 13th August 1918 and became the 18th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry), the King’s Liverpool Regiment.

He was serving with the 18^th Battalion, (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry), The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 306287 when he was killed in action on the 08th October 1918, aged 25, during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).  

From the battalion War Diary -

07th October 1918

The battalion was billeted at TEMPLEUX-LA-FOSSE and moved forward to the HINDENBURG Line in the neighbourhood of BONY, taking up previously selected position by 1545 hours.  […]  Final orders for the attack on the 8th were issued, rations were issued and everything prepared, overcoats being dumped and the necessary tools being issued.  

8th October 1918

The battalion arrived in the Assembly position in B.8.d. at 0600 hours. […]. Intermittent shelling in BELLE VUE FARM and BEAUREVOIR MILL.  Manchesters and Connaughts not in position.  At 0652 the Manchesters and Connaughts moved forward, this battalion, being in Divisional Reserve, following.  A good number of prisoners commenced to come in, the situation being good, and the Manchesters and Connaughts got into position without much difficulty.

At 1030 word was received from the Manchesters that LES FOLIES FARM was captured at 0830, and that they were advancing on to final objective, with very little opposition.

At 1235 hours our “D” Company was ordered to report to the Connaught Rangers, as reserve in case of necessity.  At 1242 “A”, “B”, and “C” Coys were ordered forward to  take up positions between PETIT FOLIES and LES FOLIES FARM in time to arrive at 1400 […], the battalion going to take over the line from the Connaughts.  At 1730 “D” Company moved forward to occupy the mill at SERAIN and help in clearing up the Village, the eastern edge of which was occupied by the Bosche, “B” Company moving up to take over part of the line from the Connaughts. 

The War Diary makes no mention of casualties for this day.  

George was one of five men from the 18th Bn. killed in action on the 08th October 1918.

George was buried close to where he fell, with Pte. Joseph Howarth, 18621 21st Manchesters (who died between 4th-11th October 1918), their grave marked with a stake.  The Graves Registration form gives his number as 66588, later amended.

After the war when graves were concentrated, his body was removed, identified as Pte. 306287, and reinterred in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“HIS NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”

On 03rd October 1918, the 1st King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry captured Prospect Hill, after Le Catelet and Gouy had been taken by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, the 6th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 4th King's Royal Rifle Corps. The cemetery was made by the 50th Division and the 18th Field Ambulance immediately after.  Plot I formed the original cemetery but this was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in, mainly from the battlefields north of Gouy, and almost exclusively of men who died in October 1918.  The cemetery contains 538 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War, 115 of which are unidentified.

His family apparently learned of his death around Armistice Day, as they placed a notice in the Blackpool Gazette & Herald on 12th November 1918:

“In loving memory of our dear son, Pte. G. Strickland, 8th [sic] King’s Liverpool Regiment, who was killed in action October 8th, 1918. Aged 25.

  He sleeps beside his comrades,

    In a hallowed grave, unknown,

  But his name is written in letters of love,

    In the hearts he left at home.

  May the heavenly winds blow softly,

    O’er that sweet and hallowed spot,

  Though the sea divides his grave from us,

    He will never be forgot.

- From his sorrowing Father and Mother, and Sisters, and Brother in Ireland, 18, William Street, Layton, Blackpool.”

His father Henry received his Army pay of over £38 and a War Gratuity of £22.

The pension card in the name of his mother Mary Agnes of 18 William Street shows that a pension was refused, likely because George had lived away from home for a number of years and had no dependents.

His father appears to have died in 1931, aged 63, and his mother in 1936, aged 69.

George is commemorated on Blackpool War Memorial.

G. Strickland is also commemorated in St. Paul’s Church, Warton.

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