George Needham

Private 13634 George Needham enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 12th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, he landed in France with his battalion on 9th September 1915. He was killed in action within a few days on 25th September 1915. He has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial panel 20/22

His eldest brother Frank Needham, a miner, enlisted on 11th June 1908 at Nottingham aged 18 and served with the Grenadier Guards. On 5th July 1912 he was declared a deserter. However at the outbreak of the war he returned to his unit and on 11th August 1914 he claimed the King's Pardon under special authority order and went out with his battalion to France on 8th November 1914. He served throughout the war and was demobilised on 7th February 1919. Another brother Maurice Needham of 24 St Paul’s Street Radford, enlisted at Nottingham on 4th November 1916 aged 18. He was called up on 15th May 1917 and served with the 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. He was discharged on 25th March 1918 no longer physically fit for service due to epilepsy. He was awarded a silver war badge (407967). A further brother Private Leonard Needham enlisted on 10th August 1914 in Nottingham, he was 22 yrs and 347 days old, his occupation was that of a coal miner. He landed in France on 27th December 1914 and was wounded with a gun shot wound to his shoulder on 15th January 1915, he was admitted to the no 7 General Hospital for treatment. He was returned home on 24th January 1915 where he remained until he once again joined his regiment in France on 20th July 1915. He was killed in action on 11th November 1915. He is buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No. 2. His younger sister Ida was hospitalised on 15th February 1915: Nottingham Daily Express 16th February 1915 : ‘While playing near Wollaton Park entrance at 5.30 last night [15th February 1915] a little girl, aged nine years, was knocked down by a motor-car. The driver at once rendered assistance and drove her to the Nottingham General Hospital, where she now lies suffering from an injury to the head. The little patient is Ida Needham, and her parents reside at 24, St. Paul's-street, Radford.’ Article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.