William Frederick Geary
1939 - chauffeur/gardener
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
He was the husband of Gladys Geary of 7 Oakdene Terrace, Middlestone Moor, County Durham, and father of Peter.
William Frederick Geary was born in Watford on 9 May 1917, the son of Henry Joseph and Daisy Ethel Geary (née Miles b. 1890) who were married in 1915 (JAS Watford). A second son, Ronald Miles, was born in 1920.
Henry Geary died in 1920 (JFM Watford) and in 1921 his widow was living at 23 Garfield Street, Watford, wth her two sons, William (4) and Ronald (1). Also in the household were two boarders.
Daisy married Albert Linney in 1929 (JFM Watford) and they had two children, Brenda (b. 1931) and Bryan Frederick (b. 1933). Daisy Linney was still living at 23 Garfield Street in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Also in the household were three of her children; Ronald Geary, a chauffeur, and Brenda and Bryan Linney, who were school age.
Her eldest son, William, had married Gladys Thompson (b. 3 September 1917) in 1938 (JAS Watford) and their son Peter WG was born in 1941 (reg. JFM Durham Western).
William was recorded on the 1939 Register at Kemscott, Stayard Road, Watford. He was a chauffeur/gardener and living in the household of Bjarne C Schieldrop (b. 1895, married), a civil engineer, presumably William's employer. Gladys Geary was living at 7 Oakdene Terrace, Spennymoor, Durham; the home of her parents, William (b. 1889), a colliery lampman (above ground), and Elizabeth Thompson (b. 1888).
Gladys Geary married William B Longstaff Raine (Longstaff or Raine) in 1947 (reg AMJ Durham Western) and they probably had two sons, born 1947 and 1951.
Gladys [Raine] died in 1991 (reg. JFM Durham West).
'A' Battery, 9th Reserve Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. Stationed at the Royal Engineers' Camp Ranby, near Retford, Nottinghamshire.
William Geary had been on a motor mechanic course in Newbury shortly before his death and was awaiting a new posting.
He died in Newark Emergency Hospital, Bowbridge Road, on 27 August 1941 after being taken ill while in military detention for being absent without leave. He had been arrested in Newark earlier and although he had been searched when he was taken to the guardroom before being put in cells, it was later discovered that he had taken an overdose of aspirin from a bottle that he had hidden in an inner pocket of his uniform.
The inquest was held at Newark on 29 August 1941 and the Coroner heard evidence from a number of witnesses. A verdict of suicide was returned. (See 'Extra information')
William was buried in Coundon (St James) Churchyard, Collingwood Street, Coundon, County Durham. (Row 3 Grave 46).
CWGC Additional information: Husband of Gladys Geary, of Middlestone Moor.
CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'In loving memory of my dear husband. Sweetest memories, darling. Your wife and son Peter'
Newark Herald, 30 August 1941 (extract): ‘’Absolutely Fed Up’ Disappointed Soldier’s Sad End. Aspirin Poisoning’ The newspaper published a full report of the inquest held by the Borough Coroner (Mr JB Norman) into the death of William Frederick Geary. ‘Evidence was given that deceased was disappointed at not being posted after a test as a motor mechanic and that he died from aspirin poisoning taken when the balance of his mind was disturbed. Daisy Ethel Linney, the wife of Albert Linney, of 23, Garfield Street, Watford, identified the body as that of her son, who was a chauffeur and was serving in the Royal Artillery as a gunner. She last saw him on Monday 25th August when he and his wife had tea with her … he had been on a course at Newbury as a motor mechanic and was very disappointed because he had not been posted to that work … He told me he was absent without leave from his depot, but this did not seem to cause him any real concern.’ ... ‘Gladys Geary, the widow, said her husband was stationed near Retford. His home address was 7, Oakdene Terrace, Middlstone Moor, Spennymoor, Co. Durham.’ … ‘Lce-Cpl Ernest Hartley stationed at Newark said on 26th, Geary was brought to the guard room by the Military Police. He took the usual particulars and emptied everything out of his pockets. He made the search by pressing on each pocket, but if there was a small article n the small inside blouse pocket it would be difficult to feel anything there owing to the blouse band and pouch … He appeared all right, was put in a cell and when visited during the night was soundly asleep … Before settling down for the night after his arrival he [Geary] had asked for the aspirins [a few tablets had been removed from his pocket when he was searched] but witness refused to given them to him and told him to knock during the night if he needed them.’ Provost Sgt. George James Peet, stationed at Newark, said on 27th he was fetched to the guard room to see Gunner Geary who was under close arrest. He was informed he did not appear too healthy.’ Geary was admitted to the County Emergency Hospital at about 1pm on 29 August and the medical officer was given a bottle which had contained aspirin and had been found in Geary’s inside pocket. ‘The witness described the treatment given and said that on his return into the ward [after] about half an hour’s absence he found Geary had just passed away.’ The Home Office pathologist found the deceased had died from aspirin poisoning. ‘An officer of deceased’s unit said whilst Geary was with them he was free from all crime. He was awaiting posting and would have been posted within a few weeks in accordance with his trade test. Deceased absented himself without leave and on his return would have been dealt with accordingly but not with such severity as to cause him any great concern. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
A report of the inquest was also published in the Nottingham Journal, 30 August 1941.
Additional research/record updated, RF (Sept. 2026)
William Frederick Geary