George Edward Duke

George was born in 1896, the son of Edmund and Alice Duke. Edmund, who was born in Sneinton (Nottingham) in 1859, married Alice Shaw in 1883 (marriage registered Nottingham) and according to information on the 1911 Census there had been 15 children of the marriage all of whom were still living at the time of the census. Fifteen children were named on the census returns between 1891 and 1911: Arthur, Alfred, Clara, Ernest, Everard, Fred, Emma, Edith, George, Samuel, Florence, Albert, Harold, John Leslie and William. In 1891 Edmund (31), a gas labourer, and Alice (27) were living at 55 Thorneywood Rise, Nottingham, with their five children, Arthur (9), Alfred (7), Clara (5), Ernest (3) and Everard (1). By 1901 they had moved to 33 Thorneywood Rise, and now had 12 children; Arthur (19) a book binder's apprentice, Alfred (17) a general labourer, Clara (15) a lace hand, Ernest (13) an errand boy, Everard (11), Fred (9), Emma (8), Edith (6), George (5), Samuel (3), Florence (2) and Albert (1). The family was still living at the same address ten years later in 1911. Only the 11 youngest children were at home on the night of the census: Everard (21) a soap worker, Fred (19) a wood cutting machinist in a joinery works, Emma (18) a lace hand, Edith (16) a lace finisher, George (15) an apprentice litho printer, Samuel (13), Florence (12), Albert (11), Harold (9), John (7) and William (4). George's mother, Alice, died in 1933 at the age of 69 and his father, Edmund, in 1940 age 81.

In 1911 he was an apprentice litho printer.

He enlisted in Nottingham

He served in France from 25 February 1915. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of he Somme and is buried in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 21 July 1916: 'Duke. Killed in action July 1st after 17 months service in France, Lance Corporal George Edward Duke, Sherwood Foresters, son of Alice and Edmund Duke, 33 Thorneywood Rise, age 20.' Personal inscription on CWGC headstone: 'It is but a little while (-) we shall meet again.' His father, Edmund, was his legatee.