The War Memorials of Barwick in Elmet & Scholes

George Edward Wall

The ruins of Potijze Chateau, near Ypres

George Edward Wall

10433 Lance Corporal George Edward Wall,
2nd Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment

George Wall, born at Fairburn, near Knottingley in 1892, was the eldest son of 7 children to George and Lucy Wall. His father was born in Nuneaton in Warwickshire, but his mother was local to Fairburn. George Wall had two older sisters, Lily and Lucy, and four brothers William Henry, Clifford, Stanley and Douglas. His father was the manager of a limestone quarry at the time of the 1901 census, and the family lived at 1, Sunnybank, Micklefield. The family address in Barwick was Carrfield House. George Wall had been employed since he was a boy at a colliery where he became a stationary engine driver which powered an air compressor, presumably to provide breathable air for the miners underground. Like many men of his age, his work at the colliery came to an end and he was forced to seek new employment.
Soldiers in transit at Southampton Docks (© IWM Q 60524)

He chose to join the Army for a period of seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve and attested for the York and Lancaster Regiment on 27th August 1913 at the age of 20 years. Mr. James Linneker, his former employer, gave him a good reference in which he stated George Wall was honest and sober. After a period of four months training George Wall was posted to the 2nd Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment which was stationed at Limerick in Ireland. On mobilisation this battalion, with the rest of its Division concentrated to the war station in the vicinity of Cambridge and Newmarket prior to proceeding to France via Southampton and St Nazaire where disembarkation began on 9th September 1914. The 6th Division, to which the 2nd York and Lancaster belonged (in 16th Infantry Brigade), then journeyed by train to an area just east of Paris by the 13th September.

Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery newly completed

Less than a week later the Division fought its first action, The Battle of the Aisne. The 6th Division was also involved in the desperate fighting at Hooge on 9th August 1915 during which action the division suffered 1,780 casualties. There is nothing in the service papers of George Wall which suggests he was wounded or sick at any time during his service with the British Expeditionary Force until his death on 4th November 1915. At this time the brigades of the 6th Division were holding trenches on the Armentieres front and it was here that George Wall was wounded. He was transported to an Advanced Dressing Station at Potijze Chateau, but sadly he died there and is buried in one of a cluster of cemeteries which sprang up around the chateau.

Geoerg Wall's grave at Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery, near Ypres

Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery was used by various units at the chateau from April 1915 to October 1918. There are now 584 Commonwealth burials within the cemetery. The cemetery was one of many in this area and elsewhere designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

© Nigel Marshall 2006 - 2024