George Fred Gelsthorpe
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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George Fred Gelsthorpe was born in 1897 at Hucknall, he was the son of Mary Ann Clay, and stepson of Samuel Clay, of 65 Bentinck Street, Hucknall. He was the brother of Mrs L Perkins of 68 Bentinck Road Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire. In the 1911 census the family are living at 65 Bentinck Street, Hucknall and are shown as Samuel Clay 48 yrs a coal miner hewer, he is living with his wife Mary Ann Clay 47 yrs and his stepchildren, Lilly Gelsthorpe 17 yrs and George F Gelsthorpe 14 yrs.
Private George Fred Gelsthorpe, enlisted at Hucknall on 2nd August 1915 he served with the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, he was killed in action on 1st July 1916 the first day of the Battle of Somme. He is buried in Gordon Cemetery, Mametz.
Article published on 12th February 1916 in the Beeston Gazette & Echo :- “The fourth portrait is of George F. Gelsthorpe, the son of Mrs. Clay and step-son of Mr. Clay, of Bentinck street, Hucknall. He enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders on August 2nd, and in November he was facing the foe in France. He reports himself in good health, and thanks the townspeople for their most acceptable gift. Gelsthorpe, who is 19 years of age, does not forward any detail of the engagements in which he has been fighting.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
