Royal Engineers, Service no. 294155
Born: 3rd February 1873. Died: 26th August 1924.
Story
George was born in Pocklington, North Yorkshire, to George Giles Snr and Jane Thorrold. He was baptised in Pocklington on the 16th February 1873, and married Mary Ann Bywater in Kippax on 26th December 1892. The couple had five children, but the marriage was a difficult one. On 23rd November 1895, it was reported that George had been sent to prison:
“At Leeds West Riding Court, George Giles, Miner, of Kippax was charged with assaulting his wife. The Magistrates characterised the assault as a brutal and aggravated one and sent Giles to prison for fourteen days, without the option of a fine. They further ordered him to pay the costs of the prosecution, or in default, an additional term of imprisonment for seven days. His wife was also granted a separation order, Giles being ordered to contribute 7s per week toward her maintenance and her children.”
Despite the separation order, they resumed living together at 4 Sissons Row, and George was the father of Barrar Evelyn Giles, who joined the Barnbow Munitions factory during the War. George was a brick layer and coal miner, but had already enlisted with the East Riding Territorials in 1902 and spent 6 years with them. It was reported on 11th August 1909 that Mary Ann had been imprisoned following another domestic dispute:
George travelled to London and joined the army on 23 August 1915 aged 42 and seven months. His service record describes him as 5 ft 2½” tall, of fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair with no descriptive marks and his trade as miner.
He landed in France on 17th January 1915, and stayed there until 25th October 1917, then served at home. He also encountered his son-in-law Frederick Smith in the trenches.
George served in the Labour Corps but was invalided out as a result of injuries sustained in France when a lorry knocked him off his bike. He was discharged on the 17th January 1918 in Nottingham aged 46 years with very good character references, but he was deemed no longer physically fit, due to problems with his vision.
After the war, George returned to mining, working at the Allerton Main (Albert Colliery) Bowers Row, Great Preston where he was crushed to death when the roof of the tunnel he was working in collapsed. The inquest report stated that he had not set the props up at the right distance thereby contributing to the accident. He was buried at St Mary’s Churchyard, Kippax on the 29th August, 1924, and left £47 14s in his will to his widow Mary Ann.
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