George Samuel Moody
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Samuel Moody was the son of Dixon and Elizabeth Moody (née Matthews also Mathews). His father Dixon was born in 1867 in Greasley, Nottinghamshire, the son of George and Hannah Moody. Dixon attested in the Militia on 11 May 1887 (2847 Private, 4th Bn Derbyshire Regiment). He was aged 19 years 5 months, single, living at Glebe Farm, Elston, and employed by his father as a farm labourer. In 1891 the family was living on Meadow Lane, Long Eaton, Derbyshire, and Dixon was working for his father, a farmer. His mother Elizabeth was born in December 1869 (reg. 1870) in Elston, Nottinghamshire, the daughter of Samuel and Ann Matthews. She was baptised at Elston Chapel in January 1870; her parents' address was given as 'Elston Chapelry.' In 1891 Elizabeth was living with her widowed mother, Ann, a launderess, in Rawson's Yard, Elston; Elizabeth and her younger sister, Sarah, were launderesses' assistants. Dixon and Elizabeth were married at Elston All Saints on 6 April 1895 and had seven children: George Samuel b. Farnsfield 1896 bap. Farnsfield St Michael April 1896, Laura Annie b. Farnsfield 1897, Edith Mary b. Sibthorpe 1899, Hilda Elizabeth b. Selston 1902, Oliver Dixon (also Dixon Oliver) b. Sibthorpe 1902, Robert Leslie b. Sibthorpe 1904 and Mary Olive b. Caunton 1907. The two eldest children were born in Farnsfield and the third child in Sibthorpe in 1899. However, by 1901 Dixon (32), a brickyard labourer, and Elizabeth (30) were living on Dixie Street, Selston, with their four children, George (5), Laura (3), Edith (1) and Hilda (under 1 year), who was born in Selston. By 1911 the family had moved to Middlethorpe Grange Farm, Caunton, where Dixon Moody was now a farmer. All seven children were in the home on the night of the census: George who was working on the farm, Laura, Edith, Hilda and Oliver (8) who were all at school, and Robert (6) and Mary (3). Also in the household were a general domestic servant and a cowman. His parents were still living at Middlethorpe Grange when the CWGC record was compiled. Dixon Moody died in 1939 (J/A/S Newark) and when the England & Wales Register was compiled later that year his widow Elizabeth was living in Averham, near Newark, with their widowed daughter, Laura Paton (m. James D Paton 1918) and her three sons. Elizabeth died in 1951.
Trooper George Samuel Moody enlisted in London and served with the 1st battalion the Life Guards, Household Cavalry. He was killed in action on 19th May 1918 and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France (LXVI.C.20). CWGC - History of Etaples Military Cemetery (extract): 'During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Died a hero' Caunton Roll of Honour: 'George Samuel Moody, 1st Life Guards (Corporal?). Killed on Sunday Night May 19th, 1918, during a German air raid on the camp at the base in France while defending nurses & wounded.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother Elizabeth was his sole legatee. Probate: Moody. George Samuel of Middlethorpe Caunton Nottinghamshire died 18 May 1918 on war service Administration (with Will) Nottingham 29 July to Elizabeth Moody widow. Effects £101 11s. 2d.
