Manchester Regiment 2nd/5th Battalion, Service no. 54272
Son of David Firth and Augusta Swales of Ashfield Cottage, Station Road, Kippax
Died 15th April 1918, aged 19
Story
Private Firth was born 14th September 1898 in Kippax. He was a prisoner of war, and died of wounds received. The camp where he was kept was called Niederzwehren. Private Firth died on Monday 15th April 1918, aged 19. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany ref IX C10. On 5th September 1918, George’s parents received £6 12s 4d from the army after their son’s death, and a further £3 on 6th December 1919.
George’s brother William Swales Firth also enlisted. He too was taken as a prisoner of war in Germany, on 27th March 1918, and also received wounds to the abdomen. However William survived and was discharged in 1919. Able-bodied prisoners were forced to work. Men were set to work doing all kinds of manual labour, down the mines, in the iron and steel works. Doing hard and heavy work like this on little or no food meant men died of hunger.
Below: Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany
Kippax Roll of Honour 