Pte 57896 George William Giles

• Age: 30
• From: St Phillips, Newcastle Upon Tyne
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 27th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

George William Giles was born in 1887 at St. Phillips, Newcastle upon Tyne and was the son of George William Douglas Giles and his wife Annie Maxwell (née Bennett) who were married on the 27th June 1883 in Elswick, Newcastle. At the time of the wedding George was aged 22, father William, whilst Annie was aged 21, father Alexander.

George was baptised on the 17th August 1887 in Elswick. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 33 William Street, Westgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. His father, George, is aged 31, his occupation is shown as a painter, his mother, Annie, is aged 30 and has no occupation listed. They have four children in the household; Catherine aged 8 a scholar, Maria aged 6 a scholar, George is aged 4, and Isabella aged 2. All the family were born Newcastle. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are still living at 33 William Street, Westgate, Newcastle upon Tyne. His father, George, is aged 41, his occupation is shown as a house painter, his mother, Annie, is aged 40 and has no occupation listed. They have six children in the household; Maria aged 15 is a domestic servant (general), George is aged 12, Benjamin aged 10, Isabella aged 9, Alexander aged 7 and Barbara aged 3.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 160 Stanhope Street, Newcastle-On-Tyne. His father, George, is aged 50,  and was born in 1861 in Newcastle upon Tyne as were all of the family, his occupation is shown as a paper hanger. His wife Annie aged 49, born 1862. They state that they have been married for 28 years. They have had six children and all six are still living at home; Maria aged 25, born 1896 occupation dry salter assistant, George aged 23, is a barman, Isabella aged 21, born 1890 is a grocer's assistant, Benjamin aged 19, born 1892 is a barman, Alexander aged 17, born 1894 is a newsagents assistant and Barbara aged 12, born 1899 is at school. 

George married Mary Clift in 1914. Mary was born on the 13th February, 1891 in Newcastle Upon Tyne and was the daughter of Frederick and Isabella Clift of 20 Trafalgar Street, Newcastle. They had one child, Doris, born on 04th February 1915.

Another George Giles, in the same street, enlisted in 1915, he was perhaps a cousin.  

Newcastle Daily Chronicle - Wednesday 29 September 1915: 

Appended to the lists of the latest recruits: 

6TH BATTALION NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS 

GEORGE GILES, 206 Stanhope Street, Newcastle. 

George enlisted in Newcastle and originally served as Private 12314 in the Royal Army Service Corps. Following a transfer he was serving in the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 57896.

He was killed in action on the 27th July 1917, aged 30.

The 19th Battalion War Diary in the area of MUNCQ NIEURLET records the events of the day as follows:. 

"Very heavy shelling during the day on front and support lines. Our artillery was also very active during the day and night. At night 'B' Company relieved 'C' Company in the front line. Later word was received tha the Germans had retired on our left and 'D' Company were immediately sent into the front line to reinforce 'B' Company. Patrols of the 16th Battalion, Manchester Regiment pushed forward but returned just before daybreak after finding the enemy trenches were occupied, and at the same time 'D' Company returned to the front support line from the front line". 

He was reported killed in Weekly Casualty List on the 28th August 1917:  

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Giles, 57896, G. (Newcastle-on-Tyne); 

George's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as 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 £2 17s 7d, war gratuity of £4 and pension of 18/9 pw to his widow Mary and child Doris, 150 Northumberland St. Her address was later changed to 90/6762 Hegerman St, Philadelphia. 

His sister placed an In Memoriam notice in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, on 26^th July 1919: 

“In loving remembrance on my dear brother, George Giles, killed in action July 27^th, 1917.  Ever remembered by his sister Kate and brother-in-law Joe.  Sadly missed.”

His widow, Mary, remarried in 1920 to David Hanlon and on the 1921 Census they are living at 68 Station Road, Gosforth. Mary is aged 21, Daniel is a 30 year old metal machine moulder born in Coatbridge. 

Mary, Doris and new son Daniel, aged 8, are found on a passenger list in 1930, sailing from Liverpool to New York.  

His father died, aged 71, on the 10th August 1931. 

Probate was granted on 03rd September at Newcastle as follows:- 

GILES George William Douglas of 160 Stanhope Street Newcastle-upon-Tyne died 10 August 1931 probate Newcastle-upon-Tyne 3 September to Benjamin Giles labourer and Barbara Giles spinster. Effects £1072 19s 1d. 

Grateful thanks are extended to Ancestry member TEFW25 for allow us to post the photograph of George now on the website. 

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