George Wilcockson

George Wilcockson was born in 1875 at Eastwood he was the son of the late Isaac a coal miner and the late Alice Wilcockson née Marriott. Isaac was born in 1832 in Derbyshire he died in 1899 aged 67 yrs, Alice Marriott was born in 1832 a Eastwood she died in 1883 aged 56 yrs they were married in 1859 their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration district in 1859, they went on to have 9 children. George married Annie Eliza Brooks Raper (born 18810 ON 26th December 1903 at St Marys Church, Sutton in Ashfield, they had 3 children, Olive born 1901 at Sutton in Ashfield, Robert born 1907 at Warsop and Hilda born 1909 at Warsop. In the 1911 census the family are living at 25 Alexander Street, Warsop, George 35 yrs ia a coal miner hewer, he is living with his wife Annie 29 yrs and their children, Olive 10 yrs, Robert 4 yrs and Hilda 2 yrs of age. By the time of his enlistment in 1914 he stated he was not married (It seems he may have been seperated from his wife by this date. ). His next of kin on his army service record is his married sister Harriett Beastall 50 yrs of 38 Skegby Lane Sutton in Ashfield. She wrote upon his next of kin form that ' He had a wife and two children whom he was not living with at the time of his enlistment, their whereabouts are unknown and she had remarried ' she also states their parents are both deceased and he has two other siblings William 56 yrs of Sadler Street, Mansfield and Annie 46 yrs whereabouts unknown

He was a coal miner

Private George Wilcockson enlisted on 25th August 1914 at Barnsley, he gave his age as 40 yrs and 29 days, he stated he was a coal miner and he was not married. He stated he had previous military service with the Grenadier Guards but had left as time expired in 1891. He was posted to the 1st battalion Yorks & Lancs Regiment. He landed in France on 15th January 1915 and was wounded a gun shot wound to his head and hand and admitted to hospital. He died of his wounds on 1st June 1915 at Boulogne and is buried at Boulogne General Cemetery, France.

His nephew Private George Wilcockson enlisted on 10th May 1915 at Worksop, he gave his age as 18 yrs and his address as 7 Sadler Street, Mansfield, his next of kin was his father William of the same address. He was posted to the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He embarked from England on 4th March 1916 disembarking the following day in France and arriving at the base depot, on 16th March 1916 he joined his unit in the field . He was killed in action on 15th April 1916 and is buried at Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St-Eloi, France.