Pte 52028 George Edward Vernon

George Edward Vernon was born in Everton, Liverpool, on 10th November 1892, the youngest child of George Vernon and his wife Sarah (née Shallcross) there is no record of their marriage around 1872. His father was born in Staffordshire in about 1844 and his mother in Thornton, Lancashire (Fylde) in 1853. Half brothers Thomas and James were raised with the family. They had at least eleven children together, of whom five died young: Elizabeth (died age 2), Martha Ann and William (died age 1), born in the Fylde, after which, in about 1880, the family moved to Liverpool where their other children were born: George Ernest (died age 2), twins Ellen and Mary, John, Emma, twins Sarah Ann (died in infancy) and Christina (died age 3), and George Edward in 1892.

 

His father was born in Tutbury, Staffordshire in about 1844 and his mother in Thornton, Lancashire (Fylde) in 1853. Half brother Thomas was raised with the family. They had at least eleven children together, of whom five died young: James Vernon Shallcross born in Liverpool, Elizabeth (died age 2), Martha Ann and William (died age 1), born in the Fylde, after which, in about 1880, the family moved to Liverpool where their other children were born: George Ernest (died age 2), twins Ellen and Mary, John, Emma, twins Sarah Ann (died in infancy) and Christina (died age 3), and George Edward in 1892.

 

His father’s first marriage was on the 14th March 1864 to Ann Worthington at St George, Sutton, Macclesfield. George was a 20 year old labourer of Bollington, father George a labourer, whilst Ann was aged 21 of Bollington, father John a labourer. Son Thomas Vernon was born the same year and the family were on the 1871 Census in Bollington. It is not known what happened to Ann. 

 

George was baptised on 11th January 1893 in St. Cuthbert, Everton, his parents’ residence 65 Hartnup Street, and his father’s occupation labourer.

 

In 1901 the family is living at 17 Rishton Street, Everton.  His father is 55, a Corporation labourer, his mother is 47.  They have Ellen, John, Emma, and George, 8, at home, as well as grandson William, 4.

 

When George was 10 his mother died, aged 49, in May 1903, residence 17 Rishton Street.  His father died in August 1910, age 66, residence 27 Stonewall Street.

 

The 1911 census finds George living with his married sister Martha Ann and her family at 27 Stonewall Street, Everton. George is 18, a carter for a provisioner’s.

 

He married Annie Norman at St. Benedict's Church, Everton, on 26th May 1912, giving his address as 21 Copeland Street and his occupation as labourer. They both give their age as 20, but in fact George was 19 and Annie 18.  Their daughter Annie was born on 5th March 1913.  A son George Norman was born on 27th May 1915, and was baptised on 04th July in St. Benedict, Everton, his parents residence 5 Village Grove, and his father’s occupation Corporation labourer. Sadly baby George died at 7 months old, and was buried in January 1916.

 

George enlisted in Liverpool some time after the birth of his son, and the amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he had served less than a year when he was killed.

 

He was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 52028 when he was killed in action on the 19th October 1916 aged 23 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

 

20th Battalion War Diary 

 

 

 

George's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

George was declared Missing on 19/10/1916 and death later presumed to have occurred on or since that date.

 

He was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 29 November 1916:

 

 

His widow Annie received notification of George’s death on 02nd July 1917.

 

His daughter was three years old when he was killed. 

 

His widow Annie, living at 15 Harrogate Street, Everton, received his effects, including a War Gratuity of £3 and a pension of 18/9d a week for herself and child.

 

On the 1921 Census at 22 Cairo Street, widow Annie is aged 27, a laundress, and living with daughter Annie aged 8, and Rose Mary Vernon(née Norman), aged 1 year and 8 months.

 

Annie remarried to John Connor in 1939 at St. Athanasius' Church, Kirkdale and were living at 74 Kensington Road, Southport on the Register (daughter Rose Mary is present).

 

She died aged 88 in Leigh in 1981. 

 

Sadly, George has not been found on any memorials.

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