Pte 26603 George Henry Cole

• Age: 22
• From: Kirkdale, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 11th May 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.D.4

George Henry Cole was born in the second quarter of 1894, the eldest son of George Henry Cole and his wife Margaret Emma (née Lowdey) who were married on 12th September 1891 in St. Saviour’s Church, Liverpool. George snr was a 25 year old freight clerk of 21 Hamilton Road, Everton, father John deceased, whilst Margaret was aged 21 of 37 Hamilton Road, father john deceased. George and Margaret were both born in Liverpool.   

George was the second of eight children. He had an older sister Margaret, and younger siblings John, Edward, Gustav, Doris, Richard, and Francis. Two other children died in infancy. No baptism can be found for George or the older siblings; the younger siblings were baptised C of E. His father was a non-conformist (per burial).

Margaret, George, and John were all born in Seaforth, the younger siblings in Liverpool.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 2 Ajax Street, Kirkdale. His father is a 35 year old labourer in a soap works, his mother, Margaret E. is 30 years of age. George H. is 6 years of age and he has three siblings; Margaret A. is 9, John V. is 3 and Edward H. is 1. 

In 1911, the family have moved and are living at 2 Suffield Road, Kirkdale. His father is a 45 year old yardman in a soap works, his mother is aged 40 and has no occupation listed. They advised that they had been married for 19 years and had 10 children, 8 of whom have survived. George is 16, and employed as a clerk. He now has seven siblings in the household; Margaret Ada is 19, John Victor is 13, Edward Highton is 11, Gustav Roleffs is 7, Doris May is 5, Richard Thomas is 3 and Francis Lowden is under 10 months.  

George enlisted in Liverpool soon after war was declared as Private 26603, 17^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He did not go over with the rest of his Battalion on the 7th November 1915, but some time later in early 1916.

In May 1916 the battalion were in front line trenches near Maricourt on the Somme.  The 17^th battalion relieved the 19^th at 5:40 p.m on 11th May 1916.  At 7:45 p.m. the enemy started shelling the front line trenches.

From the Battalion War Diary:

“Enemy shelled front line trenches 17/1, 17/2, 17/3, and 17/4 for about ¾ hr fairly heavily with 4.5, 5.9, and minenwerfer shells came from North.  Support and Communication trenches were also shelled.  Our artillery replied with 4.5 and 18 pounders.  5 OR killed and 1 wounded.” 

The Other Ranks killed were Lance Corporal Evans, Privates Holland, Kain, and Moore, and Pte 26603 George Henry Cole, aged 22. 

George now rests in Cerisy Gailly Military Cemetery, Grave II D 4. alongside Private Albert James Moore in II.D.2, Private Charles Holland in II.D.3, and Lance Corporal Donald Evans in II.D.5.  Private Charles Joseph Kain is also buried in the same row in the cemetery at II.D.19.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme.  The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Thursday 01 June 1916:

Killed.

King’s (Liverpools) - Cole, 26603, G. H. (Liverpool); 

Soldiers Effects, army pay £1 19s 6d, War Gratuity of £3, to father George H., Pension to mother Margaret Emma, 319 Westminster Road. 

He earned two medals which suggests that George didn't arrive overseas until after 31st December 1915. 

George was remembered by his family on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 11th May 1917:

COLE - In loving remembrance of Private Geo. Hy. Cole (K.L.R.), killed in action, May 11, 1916, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Cole. ( Sadly missed by all the family at 319 Westminster Road.)

COLE - In sad affectionate memory of Private G. H. Cole, killed in action, May 11, 1916. (God knows best.) - Nellie.

His brother John had enlisted in May 1914 in the 9^th Bn King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, Territorial Force. He gave his next of kin as his brother George, of 319 Westminster Road, Liverpool.  John applied for discharge from the Territorial Force in July 1915, and the discharge was authorized in August 1915, to enable him to re-enlist with an older brother [George] in the 17^th Service Battalion, Liverpool Regiment. John survived the war and was discharged on 29^th January 1920. The discharge date is significant in that it is probable that John saw service in Russia in 1918 and 1919. 

He was also remembered two  years after his death in the Liverpool Daily Post on Saturday 11 May 1918:

IN MEMORIAM.

COLE - In loving remembrance of Private GEOGE HY. COLE, (K.L.R.), killed in action, May 11, 1916, oldest son of Mr and Mrs Cole. - Sadly missed by all the family at 319 Westminster Road.

On the 1921 Census at Westminster Rd, father George is aged 55, an assistant foreman at R.S. Hudson Soap Works, Bank Hall St, mother Margaret is 51, with 7 children still at home.

His mother, died aged 55, on the 29th March 1926.

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 31 March 1926: 

COLE - March 29, at Formby, aged 55 years, MARGARET EMMA, the dearly-beloved wife of George Henry Cole, 319 Westminster Road, Kirkdale. Interment at Everton Cemetery, tomorrow (Thursday) at 12 30 p.m.

On the 1939 Register at Westminster Road, his widowed father George, date of birth 23rd November 1865, is a retired foreman, living with Francis L. and Harold Cole.

He died, aged 83, in 1949.  

George is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 10 Left

St. Lawrence C of E Church, Kirkdale.                                                                

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