George William Tallents
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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In 1869 George Tallents (a butcher) and Amelia West married at Retford and settled there. All of their 10 children were born in Retford, the eldest being born in 1871 and the youngest being born in 1885.1891 saw the family living at Gravell Mount, Retford and ten years later at White Houses. The father and bread winner, George, died in 1909 at the age of 63. The youngest son of the family, (born 1 April 1884) George Willaim Tallents, had left Retford by 1911 and was working in a large department store at 2541 Clarence House, Clarence Street, Kingston on Thames as an assistant draper. In 1912 he appears to have emigrated to Canada and Joined the Royal Mounted Police (The Mounties). This is confirmed on the 24 Sept 1914 when he volunteered and was attested at the commencement of the war. He also gave his next of kin as Mrs George Tallents of 3 Victoria Road Retford
George enlisted in the Canadian Infantry 10th Battalion "D" Coy. The date of his death in the 10th Battalion coincides with the Battles of Gravenstafel and St Julien as depicted in the following text. "The Gravenstafel Ridge was a low rise east of Ypres, one of the key features in the German attacks from 24–26 April 1915. The 10th Battalion by this point, after suffering heavily in its counter-attacks of 22–23 April, mustered only 174 men but still contributed enough to the defence of the position to merit a battle honour for their work. The town of St. Julien was located east of Ypres, in the south-western part of Belgium known as Flanders. The 10th Battalion was called forward on the night of 22–23 April to counterattack the strong German formation advancing through a large gap in the line created by the rout of two French divisions. Forming up in front of the Sixteenth Battalion, the two units mounted a hasty assault on an oak plantation known as Bois de Cuisineres, or Kitcheners' Wood, so named because the French had located their field kitchens there. The assault cost the life of the 10th's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Boyle, and of the 816 men who crossed the start line on 22 April, only some 193 survived. Nonetheless, the German advance was stopped. This action moved the overall commander of the French Army to describe the attack as the single bravest act of the entire war". Private George William Tallents The Retford Times 29/09/16 Mrs Geo Tallents who resides with her daughter, Mrs G Clark at 4 Victoria Road, Retford, has received intimation from the Canadian Military Authorities that her son Pte George William Tallents has been killed by the explosion of a shell whilst fighting with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Prior to going out to Canada in 1912, deceased had served an apprenticeship with Messrs Atkinson and Co. drapers of Sheffield and been employed by Messrs Affleck and Brown, Manchester. In Canada the gallant young fellow was a member of the Mounted Police Force and when hostilities commenced, like many other young adventurous spirits, he joined the colours. He had been in France since March 1915. George is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium
CWG additional information:- Son of George and Amelia Tallents. Research by Colin Dannatt
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