George William Ingall
Played for St Alban's Football Eleven.
Apprentice turner at Messrs W J Jenkins & Co.
Member of the Retford Territorials and at annual camp when war was declared in 1914.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
George William was the eldest son of George Thomas and Julia Mary Ingall (née Killelay/Killerlay).
His father George Thomas was born in Lincolnshire in 1867 and his mother Julia Mary in Lancashire in 1876. They were married in 1896 (reg. JAS Leeds) and had five children: George William birth registered 1897 (JFM Gainsborough), who was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, and Bernard Stanley b. 1902, Caroline Mary b. 1904, Ronald Joseph birth registered 1911 (JFM) and Edith Alice b. 1920 who were born in Retford.
In 1901 George Ingall, a railway guard (goods) with the Central Railway, was living at 133 Thrumpton Lane, Ordsall, Retford, with his wife Julia, son George and nephew, George Johnson (20), a railway signal lighter.
The family had noved to 129 Thrumpton Lane by 1911: George, who was still working as a railway guard, Julia, George (14) a news boy, Bernard and Caroline who were school age, and Ronald (u/1y). Also in the household was a boarder, James Dounelly, a labourer at an iron works. George and Julia's fifth child, a second daughter, was born in 1920.
Ronald Joseph joined the Royal Artillery in 1929 and was taken prisoner of war in the Second World War. (see 'Extra information')
Bernard Stanley married Gladys E Goodson (b. 1901) in 1931 (reg. OND Ware, Hertfordshire) and their daughter Janet was born in 1934 (reg. East Retford).
Bernard, an outfitters shop assistant, and his wife and daughter were living at 24 Beehive Street, East Retford, with his parents and their daughter Edith (later Pearson), a fancy goods shop assistant, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. Bernard's father, George, had now retired from the Central Railway.
Caroline had married Percy Scotcher in 1930 (JFM East Retford) and they had at least four children, Mary (b. 1930 JAS), Peter (b. 1932), Sheila (b. 1937) and Joan (birth registered 1940 JFM). In 1939 Percy, an MT Fitter (Royal Ordnance Depot), and Caroline were living on Max Road, Derby; also in the household was a male lodger. The records of three other members of the household remain closed but were probably those of their children, Mary, Peter and Sheila. Their daughter Joan was born the following year.
Ronald Joseph has not yet been traced on the 1939 Register, but it is likely that he was serving in the Army.
George Thomas Ingall died in 1942 (OND, East Retford) and his widow Julia in October 1963.
Their second son, Bernard, died in 1965 (reg. OND Worksop); he was survived by his wife and daughter. Their daughter, Caroline Scotcher, died in February 1986; her husband Percy had predeceased her (1984). There is a record of the death of Ronald Joseph Ingall in 1992 (JAS Slough Bucks., b. 12 December 1910). The youngest child, Edith, may have married Thomas Beal Pearson in 1947 (reg. JFM Shardlow); no later records yet traced.
George Ingall enlisted in Retford and served initially with the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (1866 Corporal) but later transferred to the 5th Battalion Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry (Lewis Gunner).
He served with the BEF France from 25 June 1915 (medal card index). According to a newspaper report of his death in 1917, George had suffered shrapnel wounds to his leg in June 1916 and on recovering from his injuries transferred to the Oxford & Bucks LI. (See 'Extra information')
George was killed in action on 3 May 1917; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas-De-Calais, France (Bay 6 & 7).
He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ronald Joseph Ingall (b. Retford 12 December 1910) joined the Royal Artillery on 7 February 1929 and probably transferred to the Army Reserve on 6 February 1935. If so, he was either mobilised or volunteered on the outbreak of war (790801 Gunner, 202/51 A.Tk. Regt.). He served with the Expeditionary Force (France), was captured (date unspecified, initially reported 'missing') and held in prison camp Stalag XXA Thorn/Torun, Poland (POW No. 2081). The camp was abandoned in February 1945 and the prisoners marched toward central Germany; the survivors being later repatriated. Ronald may have transferred to 'Z' Reserve on 5 March 1946 and been discharged (age) in 1955.
Ordsall St Albans parish magazine, June 1917, Roll of Honour: 'During May this parish has lost three young soldiers: Sergeant Weightman, Corporal W Ingall and Private W Richardson. Corporal Ingall was a valuable member of St Alban’s Football Eleven. To their relatives and friends we offer our deep sympathy.' (Retford Local Studies Library, ref 942.52 ORD)
Retford Times 25 May 1917: 'Corpl George William Ingall':
'Mr and Mrs George Ingall, 120 Thrumpton Lane, Retford received the sad news from the War Office on Sunday that their eldest son, Corpl George Wm Ingall of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry had been killed in action on May 3rd. He was a Lewis Gunner and spent his 20th birthday with his parents on New Year’s Day 1917 when home on ten day’s leave.
'The deceased was an apprentice as a turner at Messrs W J Jenkins and Co. and when war broke out he was with the Retford Territorials in camp at Filey. When he went with them to Harpenden and Luton and left the last mentioned place for France on June 26th 1915. He was wounded in the leg by shrapnel on June 21st of last year and was in hospital for three months.
'Later he was transferred with two other Retford Territorials, Pte’s George Harrison and Victor Wightman into the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. It appears that all three went into the “push” together and Mrs Ingall heard of her son’s death the day before she received the official news from a letter Pte Harrison sent his sister in South Street. Harrison is in Hospital in France.
'In his last letter home written on April 30th, Corpl Ingall mentioned that he was about to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He sent a field card on May 2nd and the following day laid down his life in the great cause.
'The deceased was well known and much respected by a large circle of colleagues and played football for the St Alban’s Club. He attended the Roman Catholic Church. His father is a guard on the Great Central Railway and is a member of the Reford Volunteer Corps.'
Additional research/record updated, RF (Oct. 2026).
George William Ingall
This photo was first published in the Retford Times following the death of George William Ingall
Photo of George William Ingall
Commemorated on the Arras Memorial (www.cwgc.org)