Geoffrey George was born in 1896 at Bryn y Garreg, Flint Mountain, and was the third of eight children to Edward George and Elizabeth (Ball).
Geoffrey lived at Woodleigh, Bryn y Garreg all his life and at the age of 14 was employed as a dyer. Before joining the army he was working as an ironworker and was unmarried.
His mother, who was born in Chorlton, Cheshire, died at Bryn y Garreg on 22nd February, 1914 and is buried in the Northop Road Cemetery. Mrs George, who was 51 years of age, had been indisposed for some time and, her illness assuming a very serious aspect, she became worse and died on a Sunday afternoon, when several of her family were attending the service at St Thomas’s Church, Flint Mountain. She had been a worshipper at the church.
Geoffrey enlisted in Flint on 6th October, 1914 aged 18 years and 11 months. He was 5ft 4ins, chest 341⁄2ins, and his vision and physical development were good.
His service record details are as follows:
4 days confined to barracks for not complying with an order on 28th April, 1915; 5 days confined to barracks for irregular conduct on the march, not complying with an order and being absent from the orderly room on 5th May, 1915; 6 days confined to camp for disobedience of orders (smoking cigarettes during prohibited hours) on 26th June, 1915; embarked on His Majesty’s Troopship Caledonia at Devonport for Gallipoli, 14th July, 1915; 72 hours’ Field Punishment No. 1 for disobedience of orders (urinating in Company lines) on 29th July, 1915; hospital (exposure) in Gallipoli, 30th November, 1915; hospital (debility) and sent to Malta, 6th December, 1915; 7 days’ Field Punishment No. 2 for failing to comply with an order and using obscene language on the 8th & 9th February, 1916; rejoined battalion for duty at Khatatbah, 23rd February, 1916; hospital in Khatatbah, 6th March, 1916; joined Class “B” at Cairo, 7th March, 1916; joined at Alexandria, 7th April, 1916; rejoined battalion for duty at Wadi Natrun, 24th April, 1916; 5 days confined to camp for being absent from 1700 parade on 14th July, 1916; attached to 156th Brigade Headquarters at Ismailia, 22nd July 1916; rejoined battalion from 156th Brigade Headquarters at Egypt, 23rd July, 1916; attached to 155th Brigade Headquarters at Egypt, 23rd July 1916; 1/1st Field Ambulance hospital ex 155th Brigade Headquarters at Egypt, 3rd August, 1916; hospital (diphtheria) in Egypt, 3rd August, 1916; 31st General Hospital (diphtheria) in Port Said, 20th August, 1916; rejoined battalion for duty In the Field, 30th August, 1916; granted Class 2 Pro ciency Pay, 6th October, 1916; wounded in action at Gaza (gunshot in right foot), 26th March 1917 and in Cairo hospital until 4th April, 1917; joined ex hospital In the Field, 12th May, 1917; rejoined battalion 24th May, 1917; confined to camp for being late to parade at 0530 on 16th June, 1917; granted Class 1 Pro ciency Pay, 1st July, 1917.
He was killed in action in Palestine on 9th March, 1918 and buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel (Plot M, Grave 76).
Family legend has it that Geoffrey was shot while standing up in the trenches.
He is remembered on two war memorials: Flint House and St Mary’s Parish Church, Flint, and was awarded the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is also commemorated on the North Wales Heroes’ Memorial Arch, Bangor.
Geoffrey’s father, who was born at Bryn y Garreg, died in April 1939, aged 83, and is buried with his wife.
Mr George was a native of Flint Mountain, being a son of Mr and Mrs William George, farmers, and had lived at Woodleigh since 1865. He was employed as a collier but carried on the small farm after the death of his parents, which was a small holding on the estate of Sir John Bankes in the locality of Bryn y Garreg. He was a member of St Thomas’s Church.
