George Walter Sleigh
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George was born in 1892 in Screveton and was the eldest son of Mary Anne (née Mee ) Sleigh and the late Walter Sleigh, of Screveton, East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. Walter was a wagoner on a farm and had another son Charles W born in 1894. In 1901 the family lived at Screveton,. George is 9 years of age and his father is a wagoner on a farm. By 1911 George had left home and was a wagoner at Hill Farm Flintham which was run by William Richardson and George lived their with Williams family.
Percy enlisted on 7th December 1915 in Nottingham giving his address as East Bridgford . He was aged 31 years and 6 months and a licensed victualler by trade. On 8th December he was posted to the reserves. On 24th July 1916 he was mobilised. He served on the home front while training from 24th July 1916, on 31st January 1917, he was posted as a gunner to the Royal Garrison Artillery where he served until 20th June 1917. On 21st June 1917 he joined the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front and on 19th July was posted to the 219th Siege Battery,Royal Garrison Artillery. He died of wounds received following a gas shell explosion on 3rd December 1917 at 6th Station Hospital, Frevent,France and was buried at St Hilaire Cemetery Frevent (grave ref IV.A.24)Buried in Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery (grave ref IV.F.43)
Inscription on memorial in churchyard: 'In ever loving memory of Pte George Walter Sleigh MGC, dear son of MA and the late Walter Sleigh, who fell asleep in France Jan 21st 1918, aged 26 years, 'An with the morn those angel faces smile while I have loved long since and lost awhile.' Interred in Longunesse (sic) Souvenir Cemetery.' Gunner Percy Espetxe Barrett, RGA, who died in France on 2 December 1917, is also commemorated on the headstone.
