George Tatum was born in 1896, the son of Edward and Emily Tatum, 1, Church Rd. In the census of 1901 the family was recorded at Buckley Lane: Edward 45 was an engine mechanic. Emily his wife was 45. The listed children were Ernest 22, Walter 18, Helen 10, George 5 b Buckley, Edith 2.
Edward Tatum died in 1908 and in the census of 1911 the family was living in Padeswood Road, Buckley. Head of the household was Emily Tatum who was listed as a 55 year old widow who had been born in Birkenhead. Also listed was her 32 year old brother David Powell. Her listed children in the household were Walter 29, a Coal miner, George 15 was a Bricklayer’s Labourer and Edith was 12. (This family has been wrongly listed under the name Satwin on Ancestry but the correction has been noted).
UK Soldiers Who Died in The Great War 1914 -19, accessible on Ancestry, includes an entry for George. The military details on the left of this page are confirmed and this source also tells us that he had been born in Mold, lived in Buckley and enlisted in Shotton. His medal index card also on Ancestry lists his three medals and tells us that his first theatre of war was in France and he entered it on the 19th July 1915. He was killed in action a couple of months later 0n the 25th September 1915 at the Battle of Loos.
From the County Herald, October 22, 1915
A number of Buckley soldiers have been reported killed or injured in recent operations. The following are stated to have been killed in action: Private Robert Davies. 9th Batt, R.W.F., 19 years of age who resided with his patents at Mill Lane, Buckley; Private William Roberts, 9th Batt. R.W.F., 23 years of age stated to have been killed in action on the 3rd inst in France, lived with his parents at Ewloe Place, Buckley; and Private George Tatum, 9th Batt. R.W.F., aged 19, whose mother resided at Padeswood Road, Buckley, is reported to have been killed on September 25th. All the above mentioned soldiers were colliers before enlistment
George Tatum was killed at Loos on the same day as two other Buckley boys, Joseph Evans and Robert Davies, possibly alongside each other.
