George Skelton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George (an agricultural labourer) and Jane Elizabeth Skelton bought their nine children up in Dunham on Trent where they were all born. The nine were Harriet, Mary Ellen, George, Jane E, Arthur, Ben E, A Elvin, Harry and Herbert who were born between 1876 and 1896. George, their eldest son, was the first of their family to join the Forces. Herbert, the youngest son, was the only child still living with his parents in Dunham in 1911. Like his father, Herbert was working as a farm labourer.
George Skelton joined the army on 20th July 1897 when he was around 18 years old and was posted to the Manchester Regiment (number 5147). He served in Gibraltar, South Africa and Singapore and his service papers show he had a rather colourful disciplinary record with ten offences between 30 December 1897 and 5 January 1904 for refusing orders, drunkenness, improper language, dirty rifle. The date George was discharged from the army is not to hand (last record July 1907) but on 21st November 1916 an enrolment document shows he was posted to the 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment. On 10th April 1918 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps 5th Reserve Battalion. George transferred to Army Reserve Class 2 on demobilization on 1st March 1919. He died on 30 September 1919, the cause of death being pulmonary infarction, and was buried in St Oswalds churchyard, Dunham on Trent, near the east end of the church.
Headstone inscription: 'In loving memory of our dear sons. George Skelton, Manchester Regiment, who died 30 September 1919 aged 39. Herbert Skelton, killed in action in France, July 29th 1918, aged 23 years, interred (-) British Cemetery near Soissons. Grant them O Lord eternal peace.' His brother, Herbert, Private, 2nd Bn The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, was killed 29 July 1918.
