George William Isaac
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George William was the son of Charles and Lucy Ann Isaac (née Clapton). His father Charles, was born in Harlaxton, Lincolnshire, on 7 May 1865 (A/M/J Grantham) and his mother Lucy Ann Clapton on 21 October 1862 in Witham, Lincolnshire (O/N/D Grantham). They were married in 1883 (A/M/J Basford) and had four children of whom only three survived infancy: George William b. 1885 (J/A/S Basford), Hannah Beatrice birth registered 1888 (J/F/M Basford) and Maud Rebecca b. 1889 (O/N/D Basford). In 1891 the family was living at 9 Manvers street, Netherfield: Charles, a railway labourer, Lucy, George (5), Hannah (2) and Maud (1). By 1901 they had moved to 53 Curzon Street, Netherfield. Charles was a platelayer on the railways and George had started work in the grocery trade. Also in the household was Charles' niece, Maud E Dyer (5). Charles, now a foreman platelayer for the Great Northern Railway, and Lucy were still living at 53 Curzon Street in 1911. Only Beatrice (23), a machinist, was living at home; she married Ernest Watson in 1913 (A/M/J Nottingham). The youngest daughter, Maud Rebecca, had married Claudious Hill in 1908 (A/M/J Nottingham). In 1911 her husband Claudious (22) a miner, was living with an uncle and aunt, Henry and Harriett Allen, at 39 West Street, Sneinton. The census return records that he had been married for 3 years and there had been two children of the marriage who had not survived. Maud has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. George had married Florence Lindon (b. Langley Mill, Derbyshire) in 1908 and in 1911 the couple were living on Emrys Road, Netherfield; George was a grocer. By 1915 they had moved to Chandos Avenue, Chandos Street, Netherfield. Following George's death his widow Florence was awarded a pension of 13 shillings and 9d a week from 4 March 1918. There were no children of the marriage. Florence remarried in 1919 to Charles W Porter and they moved to 18 Doris Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. George's parents were recorded living at 53 Curzon Street, Carlton, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Lucy probably died in 1940 (A/M/J Basford) and Charles in 1947 (J/F/M Mansfield).
He enlisted at Carlton on 11 Dec 1915 at the age of 30 years and 6 months. He served in England until 22 January 1917 then he went to France leaving from Southampton and arriving at Le Havre on 24 Jan 1917. George was killed in action on 17 August 1917 and was buried at the New Irish Farm Cemetery, Belgium. He was eligible for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His wife Florence asked for the words 'He gave his all' to be added to the headstone. His personal effects including letters, photos and cigarette cases, were returned to his wife, as was the commemorative plaque and scroll. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 17 August 1918: 'Isaac. Killed in action, August 17th, 1917, Gunner George William Isaac, of Netherfield, aged 32 years. Days of sadness still come o’er us, tears of silence often flow, memory keeps our dear one near us, though he died one year ago. From his sorrowing wife Florence, father, mother, sisters, brothers [?brothers-in-law].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
