George William Ingall

George enlisted in Retford and at first served with the 1/8th battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys ) Regiment and was later transferred to the 5th battalion Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry. He went to the Western Front on 25th June 1915 (medal card index ) and was killed in action on 3rd May 1915 . He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas-De-Calais,France. Corpl George William Ingall Retford Times 25 May 1917 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.

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)