George Frederick Woolley
Motorman (Nottingham Corporation Tramways). Bricklayer at the time he enlisted in September 1914.
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George Frederick was the son of George Frederick Woolley, a bricklayer (information from son's marriage certificate). Notices in the local paper of the death of George Frederick in 1916 include one from his 'mother, brother Joe (of Newcastle) and Jennie (of Cardiff).'
George Frederick jnr. has not yet been traced on civil records before 1914 but Army records of that year give his place of birth as Radford, Nottingham,
According to his Army record, George Frederick was aged 23y 334d when he enlisted in September 1914 but on his marriage certificate (April 1914) his age is given as 25 (abt. 1889)
George Frederick (25), occupation motorman, married Alice Wheeldon (21) at Radford St Michael & All Angels on 2 April 1914, both were living at 79 Independent Street, Radford, the home of Alice's parents.
Alice Wheeldon was born in June 1892, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Wheeldon. She was one of 14 children of whom only seven, six girls (Elizabeth, Alice, Charlotte, Clara, Florence and Hilda) and one boy (Samuel), were still living at the time of the 1911 Census. The family was then living at 79 Independent Street; Alice was a tobacco stripper at John Player & Sons.
George Frederick and Alice were living at 16 Bullace Road, St Ann's when he enlisted in September 1914 but later lived at 36, Trafalgar St., Radford, Nottingham, which was probably the home of Alice's family. The couple had two children, George Frederick b. 1915 (reg. JFM) and Freda Alice b. 1916 (reg. OND).
Alice's husband was killed in action in November 1916. Their two children died in January 1918; George Frederick on 14 January in his third year and Freda Alice on 23 January aged 16 months. Their deaths occurred at 36 Trafalgar Street, Radford.
George's widow Alice, a tobacco stripper, was living with her parents and five of her siblings (four sisters and their brother) at 36 Trafalgar Street, Nottingham, in 1921. She married Edwin Davis later that year (reg. JAS). Edwin, occupation soldier, was recorded at his parents' home, 31 Beauchamp Street, Nottingham, in 1911, He was a regular soldier and from later records was probably serving in the Grenadier Guards; Edwin was discharged from the Army on 11 April 1919 (14834 Sergeant).
Alice and Edwin had two daughters and in 1939 the family was living at 91 Hartley Road, Radford. Both daughters had started work but the elder joined the Women's Land Army in May 1941 . Edwin died in 1954, home address 91 Hartley Road; Alice died in 1970.
George Frederick Woolley enlisted on 8 September 1914 at Nottingham. He gave his age as 23 yrs and 334 days, address 16 Bullace Road, St Ann's, Nottingham, occupation brickmaker. His next of kin was his wife Alice of the same address.
George served initially with the 10th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, joining at Manchester. However, he was discharged on 27 October 1914 under paragraph 392 of the King's Regulations and was serving with “Y”, 21st Medium Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Field Artillery, when he was killed in action on 7 November 1916 at La Bassée. He is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, France (grave ref. V. G. 13).
CWGC History of Vermelles British Cemetery (extract): the village of Vermelles is about 10kms from the town of Lens. 'Vermelles was in German hands from the middle of October 1914 to the beginning of December 1914, when it was recaptured by the French. The cemetery was begun in August 1915 (though a few graves are slightly earlier), and during the Battle of Loos, when the Chateau was used as a dressing station, Plot I was completed. It was laid out and fenced by the Pioneers of the 1st Gloucesters, and known for a long time as "Gloucester Graveyard". The remaining Plots were made by the Divisions (from the Dismounted Cavalry Division onwards) holding the line 1.6 kilometres east of the cemetery until April 1917, and they incorporated a few isolated French graves of October 1914. From April 1917, to the Armistice, the cemetery was closed; but after the Armistice some graves were re-grouped and others were brought in (to Plots II, IV and VI) from the battlefields to the east.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC Additional information: Husband of Alice Woolley, of 36, Trafalgar St., Radford, Nottingham. A Motorman, Corporation Tramways, Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'A true and noble sacrifice too dearly loved to ever be forgotten'
'Roll of Honour', Nottingham Evening Post, 7 November 1917 : -
'WOOLLEY. – In affectionate remembrance of my dear husband, Corporal George Frederick Woolley, R.F.A., killed in action at La Bassée November 7th, 1916. Peace that passeth all understanding. – Fondly remembered by his wife and children.'
'WOOLLEY. – In loving memory of George Fredk. Woolley, who made the supreme sacrifice November 7th, 1916. Ever in our thoughts. – Mother, brother, sister, nephews, and nieces.' [See 25 November 1916, brother Joe, sister Jennie]
'WOOLLEY. – In loving memory of Corporal George Fredk. Woolley, R.F.A., killed in action November 7th, 1916. – Dearly loved and sadly missed by his mother and father-in-law and family. [Wheeldon]'
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 November 1916: ‘Woolley. Killed in action November, 7th, 1916.Corpl George Frederick RFA, late mortorman Coproation Tramways, the beloved husband of Alice Wolley (née Wheeldon), 36 Trafalgar-street. I shall miss him and mourn him in silence unseen, and dwell on the happiness that might have been. Broken-hearted wife and babies.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 November 1916: Woolley. Killed in action, November 7th 1916. Corp. George Frederick, our beloved brother. Duty nobly done. Sorrowing sister and brother-in-law, Lizzie and Albert.’ [Elizabeth née Wheeldon] (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 November 1916: ‘Woolley. Killed in action, November 7th 1916. Corpl. George Frederick, the beloved son of Mrs Woolley and brother of Joe (of Newcastle) and Jennie (of Cardiff)). Until the day breaks.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 November 1916: Woolley. Killed in action, November 7th, 1916. Corpl. George Frederick, our beloved son and brother. A noble life laid down. Mr and Mrs Wheeldon and family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 24 January 1918: ‘Woolley. On the 14th inst., at 36 Trafalgar-street, George Frederick, in his 3rd year; 23rd inst., Freda Alice, aged 16 months, the dearly beloved only children of Alice and the late Corpl. GF Woolley. A bitter blow, a shock severe to part with all I loved so dear.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional information, including family history, RF (Aug. 2025)
George Frederick Woolley
CWGC headstone, Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais. Courtesy of Murray Biddle