George William Darwin
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Darwin and Jane Tomlinson married on the 28 Jan 1879 at St Nicholas Church, Haxey, Lincs. John was a farm labourer but later on worked as a groom, a coachman and a woodman forester. The couple produced 13 children and over their marriage were resident at Everton, Clayworth, Osberton Grange, Scofton, and Mattersey. The 13 children included nine girls and four boys, their first child being born in 1879 and their last, in 1907. Two of the sons necessary to note are, George Williamson Darwin who was born in 1889 in Clayworth near Retford and his younger brother William Hubert born 1896 Everton. George had joined the army in 1905, and in 1911 was stationed at the York and Lancs Dettingen Barracks, Blackdown, Farnborough, Hants, whilst William was 15 years old, working as a servant and farm horseman with Charles Gauntley and family, in the village of Mattersey. He joined the colours after war was declared, enlisting at Doncaster.
George Darwin joined the army, York and Lancs, being attested and passing his medical on the 28th Dec 1905 at the age of 18. He was appointed to Lance Corporal on 23 March 1907, and full Corporal 1st July 1909, Although details are not recorded, he was tried by RCM and sentenced to be reduced to the ranks for the neglect to the prejudice of good order etc. on 9 June 1911. He was released from army 26 July 1912 due to termination of engagement, and put on Class B reserve but when the war started was mobilised at Pontefract 5 Aug 1914 and sent to France on the 20 Sept 1914. Pte George Darwin Retford Times 6 August 1915 Though only a rural village, Mattersey has quite a large proportion of its brave young fellows, fighting or being trained to fight in their country’s effort to maintain the cause of freedom. Several of them have been put out of action temporarily and returned manfully to continue the struggle. But sad to relate, one of them, Pte Geo. Darwin, age 27 years of the 2nd York and Lancs Regt, now lies in one of the plots of ground set apart for heroes who have fallen bravely on the battlefield. News reached his parents, through the Captain of his regiment that he had been killed in action and would be buried in the village of St Jean. Further information was sent to a sister of the gallant soldier by a comrade who assisted in the burial to the effect that the death occurred in a bayonet charge. What amount of good work had been done by him, will perhaps never be known but seeing that the unfortunate fellow had been at the front at the beginning of last September without a break, it can well be imagined that he had served his country well, especially when it is known that he was the type of man who possessed all the qualities of a good soldier and always carried himself with a fine military bearing. At the time war broke out he was a reservist, peacefully following his occupation, which was that of a blacksmith at Skinner and Johnson’s spade and fork works at Ranskill, but he immediately responded to the summons to re-join his regiment. His letters to relatives and friends have been written in a most cheerful spirit, and always expressed gratitude for the comforts sent out to him periodically. Much sympathy has gone out to the parents in this terrible loss, which is certainly the worst, but not the only misfortune which has befallen them during the war, as another son, Arthur aged 29 years, also a reservist in the 2nd York and Lancs, was wounded severely in October and has been an inmate at the 3rd London General Hospital ever since. He has undergone several operations and it was feared he might lose one of his legs, from which pieces of shrapnel and bone have had to be extracted. The leg was broken in three places, but it is gratifying to learn from the latest information that an improvement is manifest and likely to be maintained. Mr and Mrs Darwin have in addition a third son, Hubert now in training in Halton Camp, Tring, and also a son in law, Thos. Milner who has been at the front a considerable time. The latter has on one occasion been slightly wounded but was soon able to resume duties.
CWG additional information:- Son of John and Jane Darwin, of Mattersey, Bawtry, Yorks Buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery sp mem 29. His brother, William Hubert Darwin also was killed in the war. Research by Colin Dannatt.
