Lance Serjeant 33344 George Frederick Delahoy

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 11 BORDER REGT
• Died on Sunday 2nd December 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 85 - 86

George Frederick was born in Liverpool in 1893 the son of George Delahoy and his wife Margaret Jane (nee Roberts). Both parents were widowed when they married at St Philemon's Church, Toxtheth in 1892. George's mother had married John Rees at St David's Church. Liverpool in 1886

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 121 Beresford Road, Liverpool. George is aged 8. His father, George, is aged 43, a seaman born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, whilst his mother Margaret J. is 41 years of age. Also declared are his sisters Emily aged 6 and Sarah J. aged 3. Also present is Robert Roberts (Margaret's father) a widower aged  73 who was born in Llongollen, Denbigh. 

By the time of the 1911 Census the family have moved and are living at 13 Cleopas Street, Liverpool. George Frederick is 18 years of age and working as a pawnbroker. Also declared in the household are his mother Margaret J. aged 51 and employed as a newsagent, his step brother Robert Morgan Rees who is a 23 year old railway contractors labourer. His sister Sarah Jane is aged 13 and is at school.

George Frederick enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Bn of the King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22669.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He subsequently transferred to the 11th Battalion of the Border Regiment as Lance Serjeant 33344.

His father, George, was a merchant seaman. He was lost at sea in 1915 when the ship he was on board, the Invermark, sailed from Freemantle on 17th July 1915 bound for Chile with its cargo of coal. It was lost at sea on 30th September 1915. 

His family, including George Frederick, placed memorial notices in the Liverpool Echo on 02nd October 1916 close to the first anniversary of the loss of George senior: 

DELAHOY - In loving memory of George, the beloved husband of Margaret Delahoy, who was lost at sea through the foundering of the barque Invermark from Fremantle to Iquique, September 30, 1915. "Asleep in the Deep." - Wife and Family, 13 Cleopas Street, Dingle.

DELAHOY - In loving memory of our dear father, who is lost at sea with the barque Invermark, September 30, 1915.

Although the Great Beyond divide,

In memory with us you'll ever abide.

Bert and George (on active service).

A second tragedy was to befall the family when George was killed in action on 02nd December 1917, aged 24.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

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

An obituary notice was posted in the Liverpool Echo on 24th December 1917 which stated:

"Deeply mourned by Mother, Sisters and Bert in Salonika"

Soldiers effects and pension were awarded to his mother Margaret Jane Delahoy.

His mother died on 19th November 1942.

George is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 6

St Cleopas Church and Day School

Toxteth Congregational Church

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