Ira Paling

Ira was born about 1895, the son of George Thomas and Elizabeth Paling George and Elizabeth had eleven children of whom only eight were still living at the time of the 1911 census. Nine children were named on the census between 1881 and 1911: Mary, Samuel, Wilfred, Henry (Harry), Elizabeth Ann (Annie), Minnie, William, Ira and George Alwyn (Alwyn). Their youngest daughter, Minnie, who was born in 1891 (reg J/F/M) and included on the 1891 census, died age 1 year in 1892 (J/F/M). In 1891 George, a coal miner, and Elizabeth were living in Marehay, Ripley, and there were six children at home the night of the census; Mary (14), Samuel (10), Wilfred (7), Henry (5), Elizabeth Ann (2) and Minnie (1 month). Ten years later the family was living on Sutton Road, Sutton in Ashfield, and seven children were in the home on the night of the census: Samuel, Harry, Annie, William (8), Ira (5) and George Alwyn (2). By 1911 the family was living at New Street, Huthwaite, and only five children were still living at home: Samuel, Annie, William, Ira and Alwyn. George and Elizabeth later moved from Huthwaite as the CWGC record gives their address as Alfreton Road, Fulwood, Sutton in Ashfield. Ira's mother, Elizabeth, died at the age of 77 on 12 June 1936 and his father, George Thomas, on 29 January 1940 age 82; at the time of his death he was living at Glen Royd, Sutton in Ashfield.

In 1911, when Ira was 15, he was a student. He was a member of University College Nottingham OTC.

He enlisted in Nottingham

Ira was killed in action on 26 September 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 86 to 88). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

CWGC: Son of George Thomas and Elizabeth Paling, of Alfreton Rd., Fulwood, Sutton-in-Ashfield. Notts. Headstone, Sutton in Ashfield cemetery, ‘Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth Paling dear wife & mother who entered into rest June 12th 1936 aged 77 years. Also her beloved husband George Thomas Paling who died Jan. 29th 1940 aged 82 years. Also Ira our beloved son who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War Sept. 26th 1917 aged 22 years.’ Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father was his sole legatee.