George Varney
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Varney was born in 1885 at Radford and was the eldest son of Henry, a lace hand winder, and Jemima Ellen Varney (née Cockayne). His father Henry was born in 1866 at Nottingham and died in 1906 aged 42. His mother Jemima Ellen Cockayne was born in 1864 at Radford. They were married in 1887 and had 12 children, sadly three died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children, who were all born in Radford, were: George b1885, Henry b1888, Gertrude b1890, Arthur b1891, Elizabeth b1893, Kate b1897, Albert b1901, Ernest b1903 and Nellie b1904. George's widowed mother, Jemima Ellen, was living at 4 Grant Street, Radford in 1911. Also in the home on the night of the census were six of her children: Arthur a cotton mill doubler, Elizabeth a puller in dressing room, Kate a cotton mill doubler and Albert, Ernest and Nellie who were still at school. George married Cecila Walker (b. 1886) in 1905 and they had three children one of whom died in infancy. Their surviving children were Rose Ellen b. 1905 and George Henry b. 1908. In 1911 the family was living at 18 Churchill Street, Old Lenton; George a coal miner, Cecilia, Rose Ellen (5) and George (3). Following his death his widow Cecilia was awarded a pension of 22 shillings and 11 pence first payable on 3rd September 1917. Cecilia married William Tomlinson in October 1917. She predeceased him.
8th Bn South Staffordshire Regiment. Formerly 4834 Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) George Varney was killed in action on 10th February 1917 and is buried in Sailly-Saillisel British Cemetery, France (grave ref. II.F.1). His grave was brought into the cemetery after the Armistice. CWGC - History of Sailly Saillisel Cemetery (extract): The cemetery is 16km from the town of Albert. 'Sailly Saillisel standing at the north end of a ridge, was the objective of French attacks in September and October 1916, and was captured on 18 October. The village remained in Allied hands until 24 March 1918 when it was lost during the German advance, but was recaptured by the 18th and 38th (Welsh) Division on 1 September 1918. The cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in isolated positions chiefly south and east of the village and from the following small burial grounds [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
George Varney's brother-in-law, Joseph Walker, joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry (PO/12929 Private) before the war and was killed on 5 April 1917. (See record on this Roll of Honour). Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged) 6 March 1917: 'Varney. Killed in action February 10th 1917, Private George Varney, South Staffordshire regiment, of Radford. Wife, children and mother.' Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged) 22 March 1917: 'Private G Varney (South Staffordshire, late Sherwood Foresters), 11 Middleton Street, Radford, killed in action February 10th age 32.'
