George Woolhouse
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George was born in the parish of St Mary Nottingham, and was the son of Thomas (Tom) and Lizzie M. Woolhouse. In 1891 they and their son, George (3), were living at 6 Chatsworth Grove, Nottingham. By the time of the 1901 Census Thomas (36) was still living at 6 Chatsworth Grove but was now a widower. He had two sons, George (13) and Edward (4). Edward may have been his son by his resident housekeeper, Daisy Shelton (27); Edward died later that year aged 5 years old (death registered Oct/Nov/Dec). No record of Thomas' marriage to Daisy has been found but by the time of the 1911 Census she was described as Daisy 'Woolhouse' and was later described on various records as George's mother. George enlisted in the Army in 1904 when he gave his next of kin as his father who was still living at 6 Chatsworth Grove, Bangor Street, Nottingham. George left the Army in 1907 giving his planned place of residence as 353 Alfred Street, Nottingham (the number of the house may have been an error as subsequent army documents give his address as 355 Alfred Street). By 1911 Thomas and Daisy were living at 355 Alfred Street, Nottingham, with their son, Tom (10). At the time of the census George was probably a boarder in the household of Joseph and Maria Bradbury at 15 Peas Hill Road. George married Annie Kirby (spinster) at Nottingham Register Office later that year (registered Oct/Nov/Dec 1911) and their daughter, Cissy, was born the following year (registered Jan/Feb/Mar). His mobilization papers in 1914 were sent to 355 Alfred Street, Nottingham. This had been his father's address in 1911 and it is possible that George and his wife and child lived with his father's family. George's widow, Annie, married James Hanlon in 1916 (registered Jul/Aug/Sep); they lived at 45 Northville Street, Nottingham. Correspondence in George's service papers show that Annie, presumably with her daughter and husband, had travelled to America by 1921 and her late husband's family appear to have lost touch with her shortly after. According to Army records, George's father and stepmother and his half-brother, Thomas, were living at 116 Kirkewhite Street, Meadows, by 1921. Daisy Woolhouse died in 1949 aged 76.
George enlisted in the West Riding Regiment on 2 August 1904 on a Short Service Attestation (3 years with the Colours, 9 years in the Reserve) when he 18 years 3 months old. A character reference was provided by a Mr J Turner of 127 Mansfield Road, Nottingham. He joined the regiment at Halifax on 5 August and served at home until 1 August 1907 when after three years service he transferred to the Army Reserve. His Army service had been punctuated by a series of misdemeanours: (date illegible) awarded 168 hours Impt. Forfeited 6 days pay for absence from 4 January 1905-9 January 1905; in Guard Room from 10 January 1905-11 January 1905; in prison 12 January 1905 to (date illegible). Another offence probably committed in February 1905: Being in the West York (-) about 8.45pm when a defaulter, punishment 10 days CB (confined to barracks). 15 March 1906, Lichfield: Drunk and disorderly in the Old Burton Road, Litchfield (witnesses civil police), fined 3/6d. 16 April 1906, Lichfield: Drunk and improperly dressed in the Tamworth Road about 7pm (army witnesses), 14 days CB. 3 May 1907, Fleetwood: Drunk in the barrack room about 9.40pm and making an improper reply to a NCO, fined 5/- and 7 days CB. He was mobilized on the outbreak of war and joined his old regiment in Halifax on 5 August 1914. He was in France by 31 August and was killed less than two months later. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret memorial. He qualified for the 1914 Star and clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 20 November 1914: 'Woolhouse. Killed in action October 23rd, George Woolhouse, West Riding Regiment, husband of Annie Woolhouse, age 27 (sic).' Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 24 November 1914: 'Private G Woolhouse, West Riding, 356 Alfred Street North, Nottingham, age 25 (sic).' Caption to photograph published in the Nottingham Evening Post, 25 November 1914: 'Private G Woolhouse West Ridings, 355 Alfred Street North, Nottingham, killed in action, Oct. 23.) His widow was awarded a pension of 15/- a week for herself and her child from 24 May 1915. Correspondence in George's service papers show that his stepmother, Doris Wheelhouse, received her stepson's medals after lengthy correspondence about his widow's removal to America. A document relating to the disposal of George’s medals (and another relating to the disposal of his personal possessions) gave the address of his widow, Mrs Annie Hanlon, as 45 Northville Street, Nottingham. A letter dated 4 August 1921 from Jackson Mitchell of York Chambers, King Street, Nottingham, to OIC Infantry Record office, Duke of Wellington’s Regt. York: ‘The enclosed notification for Mrs Annie Hanlon, late of 45 Northville Street, Nottingham, has been delivered to me quite correctly by the Postal Authorities at her request during her absence in the United State. I am holding the various war trophies due to her until her return or until she can send me a permanent address. If you care to send them to me for safe-keeping and for delivery I shall be pleased to receive same.’ British War Medal medal signed for on 23 August 1921 by Daisy Woolhouse of 116 Kirkewhite Street, Meadows, Nottingham, who provided authority dated August 1921, counter-signed by the curate of St Saviour's, Meadows, to receive the medals.
