George Henry Kipling
- Family History
- Military History
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George Henry was the only child of Henry and Elizabeth Kipling (née Stockdale). His father, Henry, was born in Everton, Nottinghamshire, in 1872, one of nine children of Joseph and Ann Kipling. The family lived in Everton; Joseph was an agricultural labourer and his eight sons were also farm workers. His mother Elizabeth was born in Sutton cum Lound, Nottinghamshire, in 1875, the daughter of George and Sarah Stockdale. In 1891 George, a farm bailiff, and his wife and daughter were living at the farm house, Harwell, Everton. Henry and Elizabeth were married at Mattersey All Saints in June 1896. They had one child, George Henry b. 21 May 1897 bap. Blyth SS Mary & Martin 11 July 1897. In 1901 Henry (28), a horseman on a farm, and Elizabeth (25), were living in Blyth, Nottinghamshire, with their son George (3). By 1911 Henry was farm foreman for Mr GH Stringfellow and living in Hodsock Woodhouse with his wife and son. George was still at school but on leaving school became a farm worker. George's parents were still living in Blyth when he was killed in 1918 although the later CWGC record gives their address as Oldcotes, near Rotherham. By 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living at West Len, Clarborough, Nottinghamshire; Henry was a farm labourer. Henry died in 1947 and Elizabeth in 1954.
2/4th Bn Leicestershire Regiment 2nd/4th Battalion formerly Lincolnshire Regiment (203848). George Henry fought in Flanders where he was wounded and subsequently died on 24 March 1918 age 20. He is buried in Dernan Court Communal Cemetery Extension, France (grave ref. III. J. 47). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC Additional information: 'Only son of Henry and Elizabeth Kipling, of Oldcotes, Rotherham, Yorks' Retford and Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 8 February 1910: ‘Singular Accident. A curious accident occurred on Tuesday morning to Mrs Kipling, wife of Henry Kipling, farm foreman, to Mr GH Stringfellow, of Hodsock. She was cleaning out a cupboard and throwing the rubbish on the fire, when something exploded, blowing the window out, and setting fire to Mrs Kipling. She at once ran to the house of a neighbour, who put out the flames, though not before she was badly burned about the head and face. With the neighbour she then returned to the house, where the room was found to be ablaze, but the fire was put out without much damage being done. Medical aid was summoned for the woman, and after wounds had been temporarily dressed, sh was removed to the Worksop Victoria Hospital. It is supposed that a loaded cartridge must have got amongst the rubbish which Mrs Kipling was throwing on the fire.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) George's uncle, Edwin Kipling, his father Henry's younger brother, served in the 1/5th Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (242311 Private) and was killed in action on 21 October 1917 (Tyne Cot Memorial). His cousin, Arthur Kipling, the son of Francis (brother of Edwin and Henry), served in the Machine Gun Corps (3082 Private) and was killed in action on 17 August 1916 (Thiepval Memorial). See records on this Roll of Honour. Nottinghamshire Archives (ref PR 8446), Harworth Register of Burials: ‘Members of the Parish of Harworth who died in the Great War of 1914-1918 and are buried abroad ... Kipling George Henry (Oldcoates), Private 2/4 Leicesters, 24 March 1918, 20 years, died of wounds on the Western Front.' Worksop Guardian 19 April 1918 'The sad news of the death in action of Pte. Geo. Henry Kipling, only son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Kipling, of Blyth, was received by wire this week, this cast a gloom over the village. The deceased was called up from farm work last year and joined the Leicesters, and was in France ten months. Great sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. Kipling in their loss, he was the only son.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father Henry was his legatee. Original research by Colin Dannatt
