George Lang Scott

George Lang was the son of James and Eliza Ellen Scott (née Lang). His father James Scott was born in Norwell, Newark, Nottinghamshire, in about 1856 and his mother Eliza Ellen Lang was born in Tiverton, Devon, in about 1857. They were married at Bradford St Peter (Bradford Cathedral) on 1 April 1874 and had ten children, nine of whom survived childhood: James b. Bradford 1875 bap. Manningham York St Jude March 1875, Thomas Reginald b. Derby 1876 bap. Peterborough St Mark April 1879, Annie Maria b. Long Eaton Derbyshire 1879 bap. Peterborough St Mark April 1879, and the seven younger children who were born in Nottingham, Edwin George b. 1880, John Shears b. 1882, Ellen b. 1884, Bessie b. 1888, Jessie b. 1890 d. 1892, George Lang b. 1892 (O/N/D) and Harry b. 1895. James and Eliza were living in Bradford at the time of their marriage in 1874 and the birth of their first child James the following year. Their second child, Thomas, was born in Derby in 1876 followed by a daughter born in Long Eaton in 1879 but baptised in Peterborough later that year. Their fourth child was born in Nottingham in 1880 and the family was living at 110 Wilford Road, Meadows, in 1881: James (25), a railway goods guard, Eliza (24) and James (6), Thomas (4), Annie (2) and Edwin (9 months). By 1891 James and Eliza had moved to Ryehill Terrace, Meadows, where they were living with their eight children: James a railway van boy, Thomas, Annie, Edwin, John (8), Ellen (6), Bessie (2) and Jessie (under one year) who died the following year. George was born in 1892 and his brother Harry three years later. Recorded living at 25 Atlas Terrace, Kirkewhite Street, Meadows, in 1901, only five of James and Ellen's nine surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: John who was a private in the Army Medical Corps, Ellen a pinafore machinist, Bessie, George (8) and Harry (5). Of the other four children: James had married Mary Ann Allen in 1894 and they and their son Francis were living on Brierley Terrace, Brierley Street, Meadows. James was employed as a railway carter. Thomas had married Ruth Bugg in 1900 and they were also living in the Meadows; he was now a railway parcels porter. Edwin, a railway porter, was a boarder in the household of a railway carter and his wife in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Annie Maria has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census. In 1911 Eliza, described as 'married', was living at 6 Lichfield Road, Sneinton Boulevard, with her two youngest sons, George, a general carter (hardware) and Harry who worked at an iron foundry. Her husband James was proprietor of a Temperance Hotel on Helliwell Street, Corporation Street, Manchester. Four of their children had married since 1901: Edwin George had married Hannah Bennet in Burbage, Leicestershire, in 1905 and in 1911 they were living in Burbage with their son, Edwin George. Edwin was employed on the railway as a shunter. John had married Mary Jane Williams in New York in 1908 (remarried 19 September 1914 reg. Basford). They have not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but the birth of a son was registered in Basford in 1912. Ellen had married Colin Campbell Clark in 1907 and they and their son were living in the Meadows. Bessie had married Alfred Edmund Cooke in 1908 and they were living in Carlton with their son. Annie has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. Eliza was living at 53 Collygate Road, Meadows, when George was killed in 1917. She completed a form for the Army in February 1918 listing her son's surviving blood relatives: Father - James, Manchester Mother - Eliza Ellen, 53 Colleygate Road, Meadows Brothers - largely illegible but five entries who would be James, Woodhouse Street; Thomas; Edwin, Burbage Leicestershire; John, and Harry 53 Collygate Road. Sisters: largely illegible but three entries: [Annie Maria] Crane (age 39), Russell Road Nottingham; [Ellen] Clarke, Ryehill Cottages and [Bessie] Cook (age 33), Calcutta Street, Nottingham. Eliza Ellen died on 3 October 1935. Her husband James died in 1939 (reg. Manchester). George's brothers, James, John and Harry, also served in the war. James' record has not yet been traced but he achieved the rank of sergeant. John Shears served in the Royal Flying Corps from 23 October 1915 (61320), transferring to the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918. He was a waggoner examiner (probably a railway employee) before serving. His service record gave the address of his wife, Mary Jane, as Langley Mill, Derbyshire. He was retained in the RAF after the Armistice but transferred to the RAF Reserve in June 1919 and 'deemed discharged' on 30 April 1920; home address Langley Mill. Harry attested in April 1915. He was 21 years old , a tramway employee, and living with his mother at 53 Collygate Road. He served in the Royal Artillery (23337, promoted Bombardier July 1917). Harry married Elizabeth Ford at Lambeth St Matthew, London, in August 1915, four months before embarking at Southampton on 11 January 1916 to join the BEF France. Harry had leave to the UK via Havre between 3 August - 18 August 1918 but otherwise appeared to have served continuously in France. He returned to the UK on 6 April 1919 and was discharged the same month to 53 Collygate Road.