George Ernest Bilbie
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Ernest, known as Harry, was the son of William Waplington and Rosina Bilbie (née Barrow). His father, William Bilbie Waplington, was born in Radford, Nottingham, in 1862, the son of Harriet Waplington and William Bilbie. His parents were married in 1864 and their son's name was recorded on subsequent documents as William Waplington Bilbie. His mother Rosina was born in Nottingham in 1860, the daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Waplington (née Cobb). William and Rosina were married at Lenton St Anthony in June 1883 and they had six children: Mabel b. 1883 d. 1910, Archie birth registered 1886 (J/F/M) d. 1906, Lottie b. 1888, William b. 1889, George Ernest b. 1 June 1891 bap. 'Harry' Nottingham St Ann 29 August 1891 and Samuel birth registered 1895 (J/F/M). William, a butcher, Rosina and their four children, Mabel, Archie, Lottie and William, were living at Alfred Terrace, Nottingham, in 1891. Rosina died eight years later in 1899 (reg. O/N/D), leaving her husband with six children between the ages of four and sixteen. In 1901 William was living at 60 Abbotsford Street, Nottingham. His eldest daughter Mabel was housekeeper for the family, Archie was a hosiery stamper, Lottie a machinist and William, George Ernest (Harry), and Samuel were school age. William had moved to 61 Coppice Road (now Ransom Road), Nottingham, by 1906 when his eldest son, Archie, died at home on 14 January 1906 aged 20. William married Annie Cooper (b. abt 1868 Calais, France) later that year (reg. J/A/S). His eldest daughter Mabel died aged 27 in 1910. The family home was still at 61 Coppice Road in 1911 but only William's three surviving sons were in the home on the night of the census: William a grocer's shop assistant, George a butcher's shop assistant and Samuel, a hairdresser's assistant. Lottie, a lace jennier, was living with her maternal uncle Frank Barrow and his wife Mary at 10 Boswell Street, Radford. William emigrated to Canada before the war where he married and had one child. He attested in 1916, before his marriage, and named his father William of 385 St Ann's Well Road, Nottingham, as his next of kin. Lottie married Alfred Hind in 1914 and they had two daughters. George married Mary E Gandy (b. 1892) in 1913 (reg. J/F/M) and they had two sons, William H. b. 1913 and Samuel Albert b. 1916. His widow married Arthur Terrey in 1923. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled Arthur and Mary, their daughter Joyce Elizabeth Jane (b. 1923) and Mary's two sons, William and Samuel, were living at Swain's Avenue, Nottingham. Mary Terrey died in 1982. George's father, William, died in October 1923.
11th Royal Sussex Regiment. Formerly 24695 Private North Staffordshire Regiment. George Ernest was reported missing in action on 21 October 1916 but his death was not confirmed until July the following year. He is buried in Mill Road Cemetery, Thiepval, France (grave ref. XVIII.C.2). The cemetery was made in the Spring of 1917 when graves were recovered from the battlefield of 1916, but graves were also brought in after the Armistice. George qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Mill Road Cemetery (extract): The village of Thiepval is about 8km from the town of Albert. 'The German Army took the area around Thiepval at the end of September 1914. It then established a line through the area with troops from its 26th Reserve Division. Men from this Division were still in occupation when Commonwealth forces launched their assault on the 1 July 1916. During this attack, the 36th (Ulster) Division were detailed to attack the German positions north of Thiepval, known as the Hansa Line and the Schwaben Redoubt. Launched from Thiepval Wood, initially their assault was successful and some leading elements even reached as far as the German's second line of defence (Stuff Redoubt). However, by the end of the day, as a result of the units on either side of it failing to take their objectives (in particular the 32nd Division's failure to take Thiepval), it had been forced back to the original German front line. It would take until the 26 September 1916, before Thiepval finally fell to the 18th Division. Thiepval then remained under Allied occupation until 25 March 1918, when it was lost during the great German offensive, but it was retaken on the following 24 August by the 17th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions. Mill Road Cemetery (called at one time Mill Road Cemetery No.2) was made during the spring of 1917, when the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg line allowed the battlefield of 1916 to be cleared. At the Armistice, it contained 260 burials, but was then greatly enlarged when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Beaumont-Hamel and Thiepval and from the following smaller cemeteries [listed].' The cemetery now contains 1305 graves. (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths,’ 16/17/18 January 1906: ‘Bilbie. On the 15th inst., at 61, Coppice-road, Archie, the dearly beloved son of William Bilbin, aged 20 years. Highly respected, deeply lamented. Funeral General Cemetery, top end, Friday, 2.30.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Two of George's brothers also served in the war: Samuel Bilbie enlisted on 14th March 1915 at Nottingham. He was 20 yrs of age, a hairdresser and lived at 385 St Anns Well Road, Nottingham. His next of kin was his father William of the same address. Samuel served with the 188th Brigade Royal Field Artillery and was in France from 1916 to 1918. He was wounded in action (gun shot wound to the hand) on 8th October 1918. He was discharged from the Army on 9th March 1919. William Bilbie enlisted in Toronto, Canada, and served with the Canadian Infantry (678271 Private). He was killed in action on 9 August 1917 and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Their father's youngest brother, Claude Bilbie (b. 1890), served in the 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards (14806 Private) and was killed in action in France on 31 July 1917. Their father's nephew, Robert Thrale, the son Robert and Elizabeth Thrale (née Bilbie), served in the 1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (2025 Corporal) and was killed in action on 1 July 1916. Elizabeth's brother-in-law, Henry Thrale, served with the Canadian Infantry (670185 Private) and was killed in action on 17 August 1917. (See records on this Roll of Honour). Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour,' 31 July 1917: 'Bilbie. Missing October 21st 1916 now reported killed, Private G E (Harry) Bilbie Royal Sussex. A faithful husband a father kind a loving memory of one left behind. - From wife and children.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 1 August 1917: ‘Bilbie. Missing October 21st, 1916, now reported killed. GE (Harry) dearly-beloved son of William Bilbie, aged 25. Sadly missed, from dad and ma, sister Lottie, and brothers Will [KIA 9 August 1917] and Sam (in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.juk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 21 October 1918: ‘Bilbie. In loving memory of my dear husband, Pte GE (Harry) Bilbie, reported missing, afterwards reported killed October 21st, 1916. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. Loving wife and children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 21 October 1918: ‘Bilbie. In fond remembrance of Pte. GE (Harry) Bilbie, reported missing, afterwards reported killed October 21st, 1916. Mrs Gandy, Lucy, and Wilkie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 21 October 1918: ‘Bilbie. In loving memory of Pte George Ernest (Harry) Bilbie, killed in action October 21st, 1916; also his brother, Sergt. William, Canadians, killed in action August 9th, 1917. Resting with the brave. From their sorrowing dad, ma, sister Lottie, brother Sam (in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
