William Pedge

William was born in Saxilby, Lincolnshire March 1882 the son of William and Fanny Pedge. Although his birth registration shows him as named William, he refers to himself as George William in many documents later in his life. He joined the Royal Marines in 1900 and all that is known of this period is that in 1901 he was a private in barracks at Alverstoke Hampshire and he was discharged in 1907 because of “ weak eyes”. Leaving the Marines he took on manual work as farm labourer and as a worker at a rubber manufacturers in Retford. He married Mary Ann Brewer on the 8th June 1911 at Lincoln. They had a son born to them who they named George William Pedge on 2nd April 1912 registered at East Retford. On the 9thh March 1915, age 33, George William signed up for the duration of the war in the Army Service Corps 666 Coy at Retford. At this time he was living in Bridge Cottages, in Ranskill. He went to France on the 12th of April 1915 as part of the Expeditionary Force and was there 17 months. On January 1916 he was promoted to acting Lance Corporal (unpaid). On the 2nd Sept 1916 he was repatriated home through illness. A medical report shows he had a permanent cough and haemorrhaging from his lungs. Between Sept 1916 and March 1917 he attended Northampton Military hospital suffering from Nephritis (inflammation of the nephrons in the kidneys) and it was reported that he had lost three stone since it started. The report of the medical board dated 6/12/1917 Cause of discharge was put down “Physically unfit. chronic bronchitis, result of exposure during active service, not permanent, re-examine in one year. Requires outpatient hospital treatment”. Although the report does not mention the word ‘gassing’, it does make one speculate that with his symptoms, and the remark, ‘exposure during active service,’ that this was the cause of his illness. He was awarded a pension of 27/6d plus 11/- plus a 5/- a week allowance for his child. He was discharged from the army on the 27th December 1917. He also received a Silver Badge Award no. 293949, Dvr , ASC, enlisted 9/3/1915, discharged 27/12/1917, served overseas, discharge age 35 years 11 mths. Presumably he joined his wife and son in Ranskill as his “non permanent” illness took its toll and he died 11 months later on the 4th November 1918. In the memorial book in Ranskill church it states he was buried in Ranskill cemetery but as he had been discharged from the army there was no Commonwealth War Grave headstone. Maybe his epitaph is written in some secluded part of the cemetery but more likely he lies forgotten and unmarked. Commemorated in Ranskill Church WW1 record book and Window 2

Ranskill memorial book details:- William Pedge – joined March 1915 – disabled 4 Sept 1916 – died 4 Nov 1918 at Ranskill – buried in Ranskill Cemetery, Commemorated in Ranskill Church WW1 record book and Window 2. Research by Colin Dannatt