George Esam
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Esam was the son of John and Catherine (Kate) Esam (née Bradley). His father John was born in Rolleston, Nottinghamshire, in 1866, the son of John and Ann Elizabeth Esam, and baptised at the parish church Holy Trinity in July the same year. His mother Catherine was born in Newark in 1864, the daughter of Robert and Sarah Bradley. John and Catherine were married in 1892 (reg. J/F/M/ Newark) and had eight children who were born in Newark: Annie b. 1892, William b. 1893, Lilian b. 1895, Florence b. 1896, George b. 1897 (O/N/D), Nellie b. 1900, Arthur b. 1903 and John b. 1907. John snr., an engine fitter (Nicholsons' Works), Catherine and their six children were living at 53 Jubilee Street, Newark, in 1901. The couple were still at the same address at the time of John's death in 1934. Only six of their eight children were still living at home by 1911: William a factory mechanic's assistant (clothing factory), Lilian, George a school milliner's errand boy, Nellie, Arthur and John. The eldest daughter, Annie, had married Ernest Hunt in 1910 and they and their daughter Kathleen were also living in Newark. The third daughter, Florence, was a general domestic servant in the household of Alfred and Edith Lamb, Bowbridge Road, Newark. John snr. died on 6 February 1934 (see 'Extra information). His widow Catherine was living with her daughter and son-in-law, Nellie and Daniel Newham (m. 1926), at 55 Jubilee Street, Newark, when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Catherine died in 1951. George's older brother William also served in the war. He enlisted at the age of 21 on 1 July 1915 and joined the 18th (Service) Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps (G/6150) at Leeds. He embarked for BEF France on 2 June 1916 and probably then transferred to the 5th Bn. KRRC. He was promoted to corporal and then sergeant while in France/Belgium, where he served for 18 months. On 14 June 1917 he suffered gunshot wounds to the right axilla (arm and chest) and on 15 June was admitted to No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station. He was transferred to the UK (HS Wimereux) and admitted to the Birmingham War Hospital, Dudley, 22 June-23 August 1917 (62 days). He was discharged and transferred to the Command Depot Tipperary but was admitted to hospital, 4 September 1917-28 February 1918, probably suffering from the effects of his earlier injuries. He reverted to the rank of corporal but was appointed acting paid sergeant on 1 January 1919. He was discharged to the Army Reserve on 3 March 1919 and returned to his home at 53 Jubilee Street. William later applied successfully for a disability pension; a medical examination in 1920 found that the wound had healed but that 'the scar is contracted and causes some limitation of movement at shoulder. Arm is not wasted.' William later moved to Leeds where he married (d. 1975).
10th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Formerly 3255 2/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). The 10th (Service) Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment was formed in Warwick in 1914 as part of Kitchener's Second Army. It served in France from July 1915. According to a notice of George's death in 1918, he enlisted shortly after his 17th birthday which would have been in the latter part of 1914. He served initially in the 2/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters which was formed in Newark in September 1914, a second line Territorial unit. It served in Dublin from April 1916 and was there during the Easter Rising and its aftermath. The battalion returned to England in January 1917 and then mobilised for BEF France. George transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment after being drafted to France on 4 September 1916, which was before the 2/8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters returned from Ireland. He was killed in action on 8 May 1918 and is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium (grave ref. XIII.G.17). George qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery (extract): The Cemetery is 5km from the town of Ieper [Ypres]. 'For much of the First World War, Vlamertinghe (now Vlamertinge) was just outside the normal range of German shell fire and the village was used both by artillery units and field ambulances. Burials were made in the original Military Cemetery until June 1917, when the New Military Cemetery was begun in anticipation of the Allied offensive launched on this part of the front in July. Although the cemetery continued in use until October 1918, most of the burials are from July to December 1917.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
CWGC Additional information: 'Son of John and Kate Esam, of 53, Jubilee St., Newark-on-Trent, Notts.' CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'May he have eternal rest' Newark Advertiser, 12 June 1918: ‘Pte. George Esam, Newark. Mr and Mrs Esam, 53, Jubilee-street, Newark, received the sad news on Tuesday from the Records Office, Warwick, that their second son, Pte. George Esam, of the Royal Warwicks, was killed in action on May 9th. Prior to the war, Pte Esam, who was 20 years old last November, was engaged at the Co-operative Stores. He enlisted just after his 17th birthday in the 2/8th Notts. and Derbys, was trained at Luton and Watford, and went through the Irish rebellion, being in Ireland about five months. He was drafted to France without leave being granted on September 4th, 1916, and transferred to the Royal Warwicks. He was home on leave in November last. Mr and Mrs Esam, to whom much sympathy is extended, have another son serving, Corpl W Esam, in the KRR, who is now at his depot having received a serious wound in his right arm.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his mother, Catherine Esam. Newark Advertiser, ‘Deaths,’ 14 February 1934: ‘Esam. On February 6th, at 53, Jubilee Street, John, the beloved husband of Catherine Esam, aged 68 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Newark Advertiser, 21 February 1934: ‘Suffered from Mental Trouble. Newark Man’s Suicide. At the inquest held at Newark Hospital on Wednesday week on John Esam, aged 67, of 53, Jubilee Street, Newark, whose tragic death was reported in the ‘Advertiser’ last week, a verdict of ‘suicide while of unsound mind’ was recorded. Esam, who, it was stated, had suffered from mental trouble, committed suicide late the previous night by hanging himself from a rope trapped in the pantry door after a period of mental illness. Mrs Catherine Esam said her husband was a retired engineer’s fitter, and during the last three years had been attended for mental trouble by Drs Ringrose and Warnecke. For about three months in 1931 he was an inmate at Radcliffe Mental Hospital, but when he came home he seemed to be greatly improved and continued to be until of late. During the last three weeks he had been very depressed and his condition grew worse … The funeral took place on Saturday week. Mr Esam, who was 68 years of age, had been employed at Messrs. Nicholsons Works for nearly 50 years, but retired two years ago owing to failing health.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
