George Henry Antcliff
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Surname Antcliff - see 'Extra information' for alternative 'Antcliffe' George Henry was the son of Frederick and Alice Antcliff (née Antcliff). His father Frederick was born in Gringley on the Hill in 1857, the son of James and Eliza Antcliff (née Farr m. 1856 Gringley). His mother Alice was born in 1858, also in Gringley on the Hill, and was the daughter of Robert Johnston (or Johnson) and Hannah Antcliff (née Briggs m. 1853 Sheffield cathedral). Frederick and Alice were married in 1884 (reg. St Olave Southwark, London). They were first cousins, their fathers James and Robert Johnston being brothers, the sons of Ellis and Martha Antcliff (née Johnston) of Gringley (m. 1822). Frederick and Alice had ten children of whom five survived infancy or childhood. Their surviving children were: Frederick Ellis (Ellis) b. London Middx 1886 (reg. Ancliffe) and his siblings who were all born in Gringley, Gertrude Alice b. 1888; George Henry b. 1891; Annie May b. 1897 and Doris Eliza b. 1900. Three of the five children who died young were: Arnold Victor b. 1890 bap. SS Peter & Paul 10 August 1890 d. 1890; Ada Louisa b. 1893 bap. SS Peter & Paul 4 May 1893 d. 1893; James Herbert b. 1894 bap. SS Peter & Paul 21 July 1894 d. 1894. In 1891 Frederick, a farmer, and Alice were living at Cross Hill, Gringley on the Hill, with their two children Ellis (5) and Gertrude (3). Also in the household was Willie Antcliff (15 b. Notts) who was a farm servant. The family was still living in Cross Hill in 1901 but Frederick was now working as a bricklayer's labourer. All five of their surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: Ellis a farm labourer, Gertrude, George (9), Annie (3) and Doris (under 1 year). Also in the household was Frederick's widowed father, James Antcliff (71) an agricultural labourer, who died in 1903. Frederick, a gardener (domestic) and Alice were still living at Cross Hill in 1911 although only the two youngest children, Annie and Doris, were still at home. Ellis has not yet been traced on the 1911 census. However, he had attested in the Militia on 28 May 1906; he was 19 years old, working as a labourer and living in Brigg, Scunthorpe. He was posted to the 3rd Bn Lincolnshire Regiment, but was discharged when he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps (573 Private) on 15 August 1906. He served in France during the war. Gertrude was living at the Railway Hotel, Cottam, Nottinghamshire, and recorded on the census as the wife of Albert Poole (40) a licensed victualler on his own account. However, the only record of a marriage Gertrude Antcliff/Albert Poole was in 1918 J/A/S Sheffield). Albert was a widower. He had married Annie Louisa Antcliff (b. 1870), the daughter of Robert and Hannah Antcliff, on 10 October 1894 at Gringley parish church. Louisa had died in 1910 leaving three children; two sons and a daughter. George had joined the army in 1910 and was serving with the 2nd battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, at Fort Gomer, Alverstoke, Hampshire. He later served overseas but the battalion returned to the UK and was posted to France in November 1914. His parents were still living in Gringley when George was killed in 1914. His father died in 1926 (reg. Doncaster). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his mother Alice was living in Adwick le Street, near Doncaster, with her widowed daughter Gertrude Poole. She died in 1941 (reg. Don Valley).
George enlisted in Gainsborough in 1910 and served with 2nd battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Before the war he served in Gibralter, Bermuda and latterly Halifax, Nova Scotia. George served with the BEF France from 5th November 1914. He was shot in the chest on 24th November 1914 and died of his wounds the same day. George was buried behind the lines but his grave was later lost and he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France (Panel 8). He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Le Touret Memorial (extract): 'The Le Touret Memorial commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave ... Almost all of the men commemorated on the Memorial served with regular or territorial regiments from across the United Kingdom and were killed in actions that took place along a section of the front line that stretched from Estaires in the north to Grenay in the south. This part of the Western Front was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting of the first year of the war, including the battles of La Bassée (10 October – 2 November 1914) [later battles listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
Surname: Antcliff - CWGC record, birth registration and census. Antcliff/Antcliffe - military records inc. 1911 Census. Antcliffe - Le Touret Memorial His bother Frederick Ellis served in the Militia (3rd Bn Lincolnshire Regiment) from 28 May 1906-13 August 1906 then joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in August 1906 (573 Private). He served in France from 1914 and qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The Retford Times, 4th December 1914: 'Gringley Soldier Killed 'The sad news was received on Tuesday morning by the parents of Lance Corporal George Henry Antcliff (sic) that he had died in action with the British Expeditionary Force at 9am on 24th November. In the letter one of the officers gives an account of how he bravely met his death, being struck by a bullet in the right breast and only lived for an hour afterwards. He was buried behind the lines in the presence of his comrades and a small cross marks his last resting place. The officer state that he was a great favourite with the men of his regiment. This young patriot was a member of an old Gringley family. He joined the 2nd Lincolns in January, 1910 and after being stationed at different military depots in the United Kingdom, with his regiment to Gibralter and afterwards to Bermuda. After a short service at Halifax, Nova Scotia he came with his regiment to England, about five weeks ago, previous to going to the front. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents, who have another son [Frederick Ellis, RAMC] in hospital in France.' Above report: ‘Gringley a Tribute to the 24 ‘ published July 2014 by the Gringley History Club. www.gohistory.org.uk (Courtesy of Alan Hickman) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His father Frederick was his legatee.
