George Reginald Sissons
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George was born on 30th May 1893 in Little Preston, Yorkshire He was the son of William Thomas and Emma Sissons of White Lodge Garforth Leeds. In his baptism record at the parish church at Swillington Yorkshire on 22nd June 1893 his father is recorded as being a gentleman farmer. In the 1901 census George is 7 years of age and living at Lidget Road, Garforth with his mother who is a widow by this time and who is living on her own means. In the 1911 census he has left home and is a boarder at the King Edward VI Grammar School at Retford, he is 17 years of age. His probate record refers to him as George Reginald Sissons of Waterloo Manor, Garforth a lance corporal of the West Yorkshire Regiment. and was held at Wakefield on 2nd January 19120. His effects of £13105. 1s 11d were awarded to William Wyrill Sissons a surveyor
George enlisted in Malton where he was residing at the time, and at first served with service number 2639 in the Yorkshire Hussars and then transferred to the 9th battalion Prince of Wales's own (West Yorkshire regiment) he went to France on 17/04/15 (medal index card) He was killed in action on 27th June 1918. His name is commemorated on the Loos memorial. He was the brother of Roland E Sissons (killed in action 2/6/1916). .
The following article is taken from the 'In memoriam' section of the 'Retfordian' magazine which was an in house publication of the King Edward VI Grammar School, Retford :- G Reginald Sissons , L-Corpl in the 1st Yorkshire Hussars (attached to the 8th West Yorks ) who was embodied at the beginning of the war, and saw much service, was posted as 'wounded and missing' on June 27th 1918 after night operations in front of Vermelles, on the French front. All efforts to trace him have proved unavailing, and with deep sorrow we include him in our list - which alas ! contains also the name of his brother, Roland - of brave boys who have fallen. Reggie volunteered with others for a night-raid on an enemy position, with the object of capturing prisoners for intelligence purposes. With an officer and three comrades he had reached the objective and was climbing into the trench, when a bomb thrown from behind exploded, and wounded the entire party. The officer got back safely, and a non-com was captured, who subsequently stated that he saw Reggie Sissons collapse from wounds in the head, and there the record ends. We can only offer our deepest sympathy to the doubly bereaved mother, who is so well known to many O.R's He is also commemorated on the Swillington War memorial.
