George Willbond
1911 - school age
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
George Baines (as birth and baptism records) was the son of George Baines and Grace Elizabeth Susan Willbond (née Picken).
The name 'Baines' has been traced to the marriage of Joseph Willbond, a lace maker, to Martha Baines, in Radford, Nottingham, on 25 February 1827. Joseph and Martha had at least seven children: William Baines (b. 1828), Susannah (b. 1829 m. 1856 Blasdale), John Baines (b. 1832), Joseph (b. 1834), Henry Baines (b. 1836), George (b. 1839) and Edwin (b. 1841). Generations of sons were given 'Baines' as a second name.
His father, George Baines, was born in 1862 in Nottingham, the son of William Baines Willbond (b. 1828 d. 1914) and his wife Mary Ann. William, a lace maker, and Mary Ann, a widow (formerly Williamson or Williams, née Cooper), both of Long Row, were married at Nottingham St Mary in May 1855. Their two witnesses were Joseph Willbond and Susanna Willbond.
From Census and birth records, William and Mary probably had seven children: Henry (b. 1852), Kate (b. 1853), Ellen Mary (b. April 1858 bap. St Barnabus RC Cathedral May 1885 d. 1875), William Baines (b. 1859), George Baines (b. 1862), Clara (b. 1865) and Ernest Charles (b. 1867). Mary Ann may have had a son, Alexander Williamson (b. 1846), by her first marriage but he has not been traced after the 1851 Census when he and his mother (head of household) were living in Radford.
George Baines (29), a clerk, married Grace Picken (21, b. Wolverhampton, Staffordshire), a barmaid, the daughter of James Picken, a boot manufacturer, at Nottingham St Ann on 10 February 1894. George was living at 8 Queen's Walk and Grace at 20 Alfred Street South.
The couple had five children, two of whom died in infancy or childhood. Four of the children have been traced, including a daughter who died in infancy. George Baines, was born in Sparkhill, Birmingham, in 1896 (OND) and baptised in Birmingham on 13 September the same year. His three siblings were born in Radford; Grace b. 1895 (JAS), bap. St Matthew 30 August, d. 1895 (JAS); Harold Walter b. June 1899 bap. St Peter 9 July 1899 and Ida Buchanan b. December 1906 (reg. 1907 JFM).
The family was living at 2 Auburn Terrace, Nottingham, when Grace was baptised in 1895 but had moved to 124 Radford Boulevard by the time Harold was baptised in July 1899.
However, in 1901, George, a sanitary engineer, and Grace were recorded on the Census at 11 Radford Boulevard with their two sons, George and Harold. Their daughter Ida was born five years later.
By 1911 the family was living at 77 Radford Boulevard, Nottingham: George snr. (49), a builders' merchant (employer), Grace (37) and their children George (14), Harold (11) and Ida (4).
George's father, a builders'merchant (own account), and his wife and daughter, Ida, were still living at 77 Radford Boulevard in 1921. Harold Walter, who was working for his father as a builders' clerk, was living at 46 Player Street, a boarder in the home of William Henry Stevens and his wife Annie.
Harold married Elizabeth Clara Willbond (b. 1891) later that year (JAS). His wife was a cousin, the daughter of George Baines' brother, William Baines Willbond (b. 1859 d. 1933) and his wife Phoebe Annie (née Lowe m. 1890 Hyson Green St Paul). Harold and Elizabeth's daughter Eileen was born in 1922.
Harold's mother, Grace, died at her home, 77 Radford Boulevard, on 29 December 1929 aged 56. She was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. His father, George, died at sea and was buried at sea on 1 August 1932, aged 70.
Harold's sister, Ida Buchanan, married Leonard A Smith in 1932 (OND Shardlow). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Leonard (b. 1907), a master joiner, his wife and daughter Jean (b. 1934), were living at 5 Holden Road, Nottingham. Leonard died in 1972 and his widow Ida in 1987.
Harold, a builders' merchant, his wife and daughter Eileen, a shorthand typist, were living in his parents' former home, 77 Radford Boulevard, in 1939.
Elizabeth died in 1966 aged 75 and Harold at the age of 73 in January 1973. The probate record gave his address as 77 Radford Boulevard.
George Willbond enlisted in Nottingham and served with the 12/13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.
He landed in France on 9 September 1915. There is a record that George, 'A Company Northumberland Fusiliers, was treated at the 31st Ambulance Train between 29 December 1916 and 30 December 1916 (disease-boils).
He died from wounds received in action on 11 April 1918 and was buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France (grave ref. X.B.11). Headstones are laid flat on the graves as the soil in the area is sandy.
Private Willbond qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC history of Wimereux Communal Cemetery (extract): The town of Wimereux is about 5km from Boulogne. 'From October 1914 onwards, Boulogne and Wimereux formed an important hospital centre and until June 1918, the medical units at Wimereux used the communal cemetery for burials, the south-eastern half having been set aside for Commonwealth graves, although a few burial were also made among the civilian graves.' (www.cwgc.org)
George's brother, Harold (b. 1899), may have also served in the war as there is a record of a Harold W. Willbond who served in the Royal Lancaster Regiment (41159 Private).
A distant relative, Clarence Baines Willbond (b. 1898), the son of George Baines Willbond (b. 1839) and his second wife Elizabeth (née Chapman m. 1880), and grandson of Joseph and Martha Willbond, served in the 205th Company Machine Gun Corps (117026 Private) and was killed in action on 6 November 1917. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. Family grave, headstone inscription: ‘Sacred to the memory of Grace, dearly loved wife of George Baines Willbond, who passed away Dec. 29th 1929, aged 56 years. Also George, son of the above who died of wounds in France, April 11th 1918, aged 21 years. Also of the above George Baines Willbond, who died & was buried at sea August 1st 1932, aged 70 years.’
CWGC Additional information: Son of George Baines Willbond and Grace ElizabethWillbond, of Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'The day, O Lord, is spent abide with us and rest'
Quotation from a hymn with words by John Mason Neale (1818–1866), based on the Gospel of St Luke (24.29).
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', April 1918: 'Willbond. Died April 11th of wounds received in action 28th March, George Willbond, Northumberland Fusiliers, aged 21, dearly loved son of George and Grace Willbond, Radford-boulevard.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour, 15 April 1918: 'Willbond. Died of wounds April 11th, 1918, Pte. George Willbond, Northumberland Fusiliers, dearly loved nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Plaskitt. Deeply mourned by aunt, uncle, and cousins.'
Note: George and Clara Plaskett (née Willbond m. 1889 d. 1925). Clara was the sister of George Baines senior.
Source: Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 11 April 1919: ‘Willbond. In loving memory of ur dear son George, Northumberland Fusiliers, died from wounds received in action April 11th, 1918. Sadly missed. Father & mother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 11 April 1919: ‘Willbond. In loving memory of George Willbond, died of wounds in France April 11th, 1918, dearly-loved nephew of Mr and Mrs Plaskitt. Never wil his memory fade.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 30 December 1930: ‘Willbond. December 29th, at 77 Radford-boulevard, Grace, beloved wife of Geo. B Willbond.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 2 August 1932: ‘Willbond. George Baines, beloved father of Ida and Harold, died at sea August 1st. Loving daughter and son.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research, record updated. (RF, Aug. 2026)
George Willbond
Buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery. Photo by Murray Biddle
George Willbond
Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. Willbond family grave. Photograph courtesy of Peter Gillings.