Introducing the Folletts

Three of George’s grandparents were Hampshire-born, all from the villages just to the north of Basingstoke. His maternal grandfather was from Ilsley, in the Berkshire Downs, near Newbury. George’s father, William, was born in 1854 in Pamber, Hants, and his side of the family were farmers, owning their own land in Little London, Pamber Green. William, as firstborn son, took over the 240-Acre farm from his aging father while still in his late teens, though perhaps this may have been too much for him. In 1881 he is recorded as ‘Farmer’ but there is a note that says, ‘Farm given up’. He is living in the farmhouse with his sister. He is however, still recorded as a farmer living at different farms in 1891, 1901 and in 1911 ¹ and is an employer.

Sometime prior to 1901 the family moved to Home Farm, East Oakley, just west of Basingstoke, Hampshire. George then attended Oakley National School. The school was run under the auspices of the National Society, which was founded in 1811 as the ‘National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church in England and Wales.’

George showed sufficient promise in his learning to move on to grammar school. He attended Queen Mary’s School ⁴ in Basingstoke, just over 4 miles from home. The school was a maintained (state funded) grammar school, founded in 1556. ⁵

His later college Student Record shows that at some point, probably aged 15, he left Queen Mary’s and returned to his old elementary school as a pupil teacher. While there, he received further training and probably attended a pupil teacher centre for day-release and evening classes. In March 1909, at the age of 17, he passed his Preliminary Examination for the Certificate, with a distinction in Geography. This enabled him to apply for a place at teacher training college. Winchester was his choice, where he headed at the end of the school year. Very sadly, just before his leaving home, his oldest sister Annie Mary died at the age of 26.

At War

George enlisted as a Private in the 23rd Service Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 16th January 1915. His Attestation papers tell us that physically he was in good shape: 6ft 1½in and 12st 11lbs with a 38in chest and a pulse of 70.

The Battalion was also known as the 1st Sportsmen’s Battalion. This would mean George brushed up against some diverse characters:

His first 10 months would be based in England. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 8th July and on 16th November 1915 he landed in France.

George was promoted to Corporal on 2nd June 1916 and three weeks later to Lance Sergeant. On 3rd August 1916, he received a gun shot wound in the right knee. There may be some confusion about the date of the injury as it was not recorded until 4 days later and it was at a time of chaos and heavy losses for the Battalion at the Battle of Delville Wood.

He was evacuated to England on 8th August and there is then a gap in his record, so we do not know how long his recovery took. The next recorded entry is his Commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion Rifle Brigade, on 28th August 1917.

Inspection of 1st Sportsmen’s Battalion recruits. Photo courtesy of armyservicenumbers

His new Battalion was a reserve Battalion, based in the Isle Sheppey, to supply men to depleted units in theatre of war. He was fairly quickly Attached to the 1st/10th London Regiment and would have sailed to join them in Palestine¹⁴ where they were engaged in pushing back the Ottoman (Turkish) forces who were fighting alongside German units.

George’s Battalion had come under the command of XXI Corps that August, and he would have joined them in September. Between 27th October and 7th November his Division participated in the third battle and eventual capture of Gaza. On 7th November, they occupied Belah Trench, Turtle Hill, and on 19th November, the Division reached Ludd¹⁵ and took over part of the front line covering Jaffa.

The Battalion were then involved in the Battle of Jaffa, on the 21st and 22nd December 1917, and the following year, on 12th March 1918, advanced the line another 4 miles with the 1/10th Londons capturing Mejdel Yaba, just inland of Jaffa. On April 9–10th they were again in action at Berukin (Bruqin/Bruchin), 38 miles inland in the hill country.

The major set piece Battle of Megiddo ¹⁶ was next and was to prove very successful. It was a massive action, planned to break the joint German/Turkish army and push them north. The Egyptian Expeditionary Force under the command of General Allenby comprised British, Commonwealth and French forces totalling 69,000 infantry and cavalry and 540 guns, spread across a 65-mile front from the coast 12 miles north of Jaffa to the hills east of the Dead Sea.

George’s 54th Division participated the Battle of Sharon, the opening action of the Battle of Megiddo. On the 19th September, the 54th Division advanced on a front of 3,000 yards, and by 0700 had captured Crown Hill, Kefr Kasim and Jevis Tepe. At 1105 Oghlu Tepe was stormed by the 1/10th Londons and 1/4th Northamptons. During this action the 1/10th Londons rushed and captured two 5.9in howitzers on the high ground overlooking the Wadi Kanah. It was in this engagement that George fell.

Obituary in the Western Daily Press of Wednesday, 30th October, 1918;

In the inventory of his personal effects there were the usual items in his valise, along with letters and photographs. Two items stand out: 10 rolls of film and a pair of football boots. It is left to us to wonder what images were captured of his experiences, and to reflect on the sadness of a young sportsman cut down in his prime.

He is remembered on the Queen Mary’s School memorial tablet.

Researcher and Author: John Vickers