George William Villiers
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George William Villiers was born on 12 January 1892, the son of Robert and Rose Villiers (née Croft). His father Robert was born in 1863 at Eynesbury and his mother Rose Croft was born in 1871 at Abbottsley, Huntingdon. They were married in 1890 (St Neots registration district) and according to the 1911 Census had 12 children, two of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Four of their surviving children were born in Eynesbury: Annie Matilda b. 1890, George William birth registered 1892 (J/F/M), William Henry b. 1894 and Lucy May b. 1896. The eight younger children were born in Bedford: Robert William birth registered 1898 (J/F/M), Frances Olivia birth registered 1900 (J/F/M), Elsie Jane b. 1902, Reginald Percy b. 1903, Grace Rose B. b. 1906 and Violet Maud (Maud) birth registered 1909 (J/F/M). There was probably another daughter, Florence M. who was born in May 1911 shortly after the census. Robert and Rose lived in Eynesbury after their marriage but had moved to Bedford by the time of Robert's birth in 1898. In 1911 the family was living at 41 All Hallows Lane, Bedford: Robert, a council labourer, his wife Rose and nine of their ten surviving children: Annie, George, William, Robert, Frances, Elsie, Reginald, Grace and Maud (Violet Maud). Lucy May has not yet been traced on the Census. Robert and Rose were living at 7 Gwyn Street, Bedford, by 1917 but were recorded at Dunville Road, Bedford, on the 1939 England & Wales Register. They were still living at the same address when Robert died in November 1941. Rose probably died in 1961. George's brother Robert was also killed in action in 1917 (see 'Extra information'). Their brother William Henry served in the 1st Bn Bedfordshire Regiment (10289 Private); he survived the war. Their sister Lucy married Harry Harvey (b. 1890) in December 1915. Harry, who had previously served in the Royal Navy, had attested on 5 August 1914 and served with the Royal Engineers (1049 Sapper); he was in the Dardanelles between July and September 1915. Harry transferred to the Army Reserve in March 1919 but was not demoblilized until 31 March 1920 having served for 5 years 239 days. In June of that year he enlisted in the Territorial Army (Royal Engineers) from which he was discharged in June 1938.
Sapper George William Villiers enlisted at Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. He was drowned on 31st December 1917 when the troopship HT Osmanieh was struck by a mine shortly before the ship entered Alexandria harbour and sank with great loss of life. His body was not recovered for burial and his name is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Egypt. 'On 17 December 1917, Osmanieh carrying soldiers and medical personnel left Southampton and set a course for Alexandria with a stopover in the southern Italian port city of Taranto. Taranto was reached on 28 December and Alexandria on 31 December. Even before the harbour entrance, the steamer was struck amidships on the starboard side at the position 31°10′8″N 29°48′3″E by a naval mine from a minefield left a few days earlier by the German submarine SM UC-34.[2] The ship sank in five to seven minutes, killing 209 people including eight nurses.' (origin Wikipedia)
Nursing Sister Catherine Ball VAD, of Nottingham, was one of eight nurses who also died when HT Osmanieh was sunk on 31 December 1917. Her brother, Horace Ball, also died in the war. (See records on this Roll of Honour) George's younger brother, Robert Villiers, 102058 Gunner, 217th Siege Bty Royal Garrison Artillery, was killed in action on 30 August 1917, aged 19. He is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. V.E.34). CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Not dead but sleepeth not lost but gone before.' George, a railway porter, was a member of the National Union of Railwaymen, Kirkby in Ashfield branch. He was admitted to the Union in 1914 (July-December). Bedfordshire Times and Independent, 15 February 1918 (report and photograph): ‘Local War Casualties. Sapper George W Villiers RE, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Villiers of 7, Gwyn-street, who was posted as missing, and is now believed to have been drowned on Dec. 31. Educated at Bates’s School, he was aged 26 years, and joined the REs last June. Previously he was a railway porter at Nottingham. Another brother was killed in France on August 30, 1917.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
