George Lennox Miller Preston

Pte. G.L.M. Preston Worksop Guardian 8 June 1917 The horrors of war are not always confined to the trenches and the fighting line; there are many ways in which the soldier may make the great sacrifice while serving his country. And this, unfortunately, has been the fate of a gallant Worksop soldier in Pte. George Lennox Miller Preston, of the Army Ordinance Corps. News of whose death, under uncommon and painful circumstances was received on Thursday last week, he reported to have been killed in an explosion at an ammunition depot in France. The news was conveyed to his mother in a letter from the Commanding Officer, of the third Army, B.E.F., which was as follows:- “Headquarters, 3rd Army, B.E.F “Dear Madam, It is with greatest regret that I write to you regarding the death of your son, Pte. Lennox Preston. He lost his life in an explosion at an ammunition depot in this Army on May 16th. There is no doubt but all who were killed were trying to isolate an outbreak of fire, and so prevent what was afterwards bound to follow, and which in fact took place. The explosion was very severe, and I am sorry to say that nothing was found of your poor son. The fact that your son died for his country, doing his duty as a British soldier is the only consolation that can be offered. Let me urge that there can be no nobler death and that it was instantaneous. I enclose a copy of an Order signed by the Army Commander, which speaks for itself as to the admiration felt by all for the heroic manner in which officers, N.C.O.’s, and men of the A.O.C. sacrificed themselves at the call of duty. The other officers of this Corps., serving with this Army, join with me in sending heartfelt condolences, assuring you of our deepest sympathy,-I remain, yours faithfully, E. Moulton Barret (Col). ” The enclosure mentioned in Col. Barrett’s letter is an extract from the routine orders of General Sir Edmund Allenby, K.C.B., Commanding the 3rd Army, B.E.F.., It says:- “The Army Commander wishes to record his admiration of the bravery of Captain F.H Moor R.G.A., and the N.C.O’s and men , who lost their lives on account of the explosion of ammunition on May 16th, though many of them could have escaped certain death. Pte. Preston, who was 23 years of age, was the youngest son of the late Mr. J.L .Preston, of London, and Mrs, Preston, now Mrs Donvaband, of 36, Ryton Street Worksop. Born in London, he came to Worksop as an infant, and spent practically all his life in the town. He was a St. John’s School boy, and on leaving school, he was employed by Mr. W. Straw, grocer, and followed the trade up to his enlistment, at which time he was employed as a traveller by Pleasley Co-operative Society. He joined the A.O.C. in April, 1915, and has been in France about fifteen month’s. He was a good lad, a splendid type of British soldier, and the greatest sympathy is expressed with his mother in his tragic and untimely death, to which may be accorded to him the same honour as though he had fallen in the fighting line

Arras Memorial, Bay 10 Research by Colin Dannatt