George William Rhodes

George William was the son of George and Annie Elizabeth Rhodes (née Pembleton). His father, George, was born in Arnold in 1865, the son of William and Ellen Rhodes. The family was living on Front Street, Arnold, in 1881. His mother Annie Elizabeth was born in 1886, also in Arnold, and was the daughter of Frederick and Emma Pembleton. The family was living in Acton's Yard, Arnold, 1881. One of Annie's sisters, Eliza (b. 1871), married a William Rhodes, the son of Richard and Martha Rhodes, also of Arnold, in 1899. George and Annie were married at Arnold St Mary in July 1886; another of Annie's sisters, Sarah Pembleton (b. 1868), was one of the two witnesses. The couple had eight children, two of whom died young. Six children were named on the census between 1891-1911: Annie b. 1899, Albert b. 1890, Sarah Ellen b. 1892, Hilda Mary b. 1894 d. 1904, George William b. 1898 and Cecil John b. 1900. Baptismal records, Arnold St Mary, have been traced for Albert, Sarah, Hilda Mary and George William (bap. 11 December 1898). The two children who died young were probably Percy b. 1887 d. 1888 (reg. J/F/M) and Herbert b. 1890 d. 1890. George, a bookkeeper for Daybrook Laundry, Annie, a milliner, and their two children Annie and Albert were living on Front Street, Arnold, in 1891 and were still living on Front Street when George William was baptised in December 1898. However, by 1901 George, Annie and their six children, Annie, Albert, Sarah, Hilda, George and Cecil, had moved to Cross Street Arnold. Hilda died three years later aged nine. The 1911 Census recorded the family on Sherbrooke Road, Arnold. George was still employed as a clerk at the laundry and it is likely that his three oldest children were also working there; Annie and Sarah who were laundresses and Albert who was a vanman. By the time of George William's death in 1917, the family was living in Gedling and the later CWGC record gave George's parents' address as 9 Albert Street, Gedling. However, they returned to Arnold where they lived at 27 Sherbrooke Road, Daybrook, Arnold. George died at home in January 1933. His widow and eldest daughter, Annie, a hosiery machinist, were still living at the same address when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Annie died at home in 1949.

Gedling, Nottingham. Enlisted Nottingham.

1st Battalion South Notts Hussars Yeomanry. Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line (including Yeomanry and Imperial Camel Corps). 280582 formerly 1757 SNH. The South Notts Hussars Yeomanry was formed on the creation of the Territorial Force in April 1908 and came under orders of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Mounted Brigade. On the outbreak of war, the 1/1st Bn Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (SNH) moved to Diss, Norfolk, coming under orders of 1st Mounted Division. It embarked Avonmouth in April 1915 for service in Egypt and then served in Gallipoli (dismounted) being evacuated in December 1915 to Egypt. In February 1916 the regiment moved to Salonika but in June the following year returned to Egypt where in early July 1917 it was placed under order of the Desert Mounted Corps. George died of wounds in Egypt on 30 November 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial (Panel 3), Israel and Palestine including Gaza. A memorial service for George was held in Gedling Parish Church on Sunday, 30 December. CWGC - History of the Jerusalem Memorial (extract): the Memorial is in the Jerusalem War Cemetery, 4.5km from the walled city. 'At the outbreak of the First World War, Palestine (now Israel) was part of the Turkish Empire and it was not entered by Allied forces until December 1916. The advance to Jerusalem took a further year, but from 1914 to December 1917, about 250 Commonwealth prisoners of war were buried in the German and Anglo-German cemeteries of the city. By 21 November 1917, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force had gained a line about five kilometres west of Jerusalem, but the city was deliberately spared bombardment and direct attack. Very severe fighting followed, lasting until the evening of 8 December, when the 53rd (Welsh) Division on the south, and the 60th (London) and 74th (Yeomanry) Divisions on the west, had captured all the city's prepared defences. Turkish forces left Jerusalem throughout that night and in the morning of 9 December, the Mayor came to the Allied lines with the Turkish Governor's letter of surrender. Jerusalem was occupied that day and on 11 December, General Allenby formally entered the city, followed by representatives of France and Italy. Meanwhile, the 60th Division pushed across the road to Nablus, and the 53rd across the eastern road. From 26 to 30 December, severe fighting took place to the north and east of the city but it remained in Allied hands. The Jerusalem War Cemetery was begun after the occupation of the city, with 270 burials. It was later enlarged to take graves from the battlefields and smaller cemeteries in the neighbourhood.' (www.cwgc.org)

CWGC Additional information: 'Son of George and Annie Elizabeth Rhodes, of 9, Albert St., Gedling, Notts.' Nottingham Evening Post, 22 December 1917: ‘Local Casualties. Died of Wounds. Yeomanry. Rhodes 280682 G (Gedling).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Beeston Gazette and Echo, ‘Roll of Honour’, 29 December 1917: ‘Rhodes. Died from wounds with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force on November 30, 1917l Pte. George Rhodes, South Notts Hussars. There will be a Memorial service in Gedling Church on Sunday next, December 30, at 3.45pm.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Beeston Gazette and Echo, 29 December 1917: ‘Death of Pte. G Rhodes. News has this week come to hand that Private George Rhodes, of the 1st South Notts. Hussars, succumbed to his wounds on November 30. The deceased was well known in the Carlton and Gedling districts, and was attached to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. There will be a memorial service in Gedling Church on Sunday afternoon at 3.45.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 28 January 1933: ‘Rhodes. On January 26th, at 27 Sherbrooke-road, Daybrook, George, beloved husband of Annie, 45 years faithful servant of Daybrook Laundry Company, Interment Redhill, Monday. Service, Daybrook Church, 2.30. At rest.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 19 February 1949: ‘Rhodes. On February 16th, at 27 Sherbrooke-road, Daybrook, Annie, widow of George, mother of Annie, and Albert at home, Nellie [Ellen], George and Cecil in Canada. At rest. Funeral Daybrook Church, Monday, 2.30. Redhill Cemetery, 3.0.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)