George Faulks
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- Military History
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George was the son of Harry and Elizabeth Ann Faulks (née Marston or Marson). His father Harry was born in about 1860 in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire, the son of George and Ann Faulks. In 1881 the family was living in Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire, where George was a joiner and cottager. His son Harry followed in his trade as a joiner becoming a master joiner and undertaker. His mother Elizabeth Ann was born in Owthorpe, Nottinghamshire, in 1863. Harry and Elizabeth were married at Owthorpe St Margaret in May 1887 and had seven children; the two youngest died in infancy or childhood. All the children were born in Bulwell and while the eldest was baptised in Owthorpe all but the two youngest were baptised at Bulwell St Mary the Virgin and All Souls: Mabel b. 1888, John Henry b. 1890, Beatrice b. 1892 d. 1918, Emmeline b. 1894, George birth registered 1897 (J/F/M) bap. 30 June 1897, Harry b. 1901 d. 1901 and Winifred May b. 1903 d. 1909 (reg. J/F/M). Harry and Elizabeth lived on Forest Road, Bulwell, between at least 1890 and 1897, but by 1901 were living at 47 Lime Street with their five children Mabel, John, Beatrice, Emmeline and George. Also in the home was John Charles Murfin (b. 1900) described as a 'nurse child' but later adopted by Harry and Elizabeth. Their son Harry was born later that year but died at a few months and their fourth daughter, Winifred, was born in 1903 but died in 1909. By 1911 Harry and Elizabeth were living at 47 Upper Lime Street, Bulwell. Only four of their children were still at home - John a railway wagon builder (later a joiner and undertaker), Beatrice a cardboard box hand, Emmeline a lace machinist and George a shop assistant - together with John Murfit who was still at school. The eldest daughter, Mabel, had married John Goodacre, a joiner, in 1910 and they were living in Chilwell, Nottingham. Beatrice died in 1918 aged 26. Her parents had moved to 46 Latham Street, Bulwell, Nottingham, by the time George attested in April 1915 and it remained their home until their deaths. Harry died in July 1916; probate was awarded to his widow and son John Henry. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, the widowed Elizabeth was living at 46 Latham Street with her son John, his wife Elsie (née Asher, m. 1915) and their daughter Winifred May. Elizabeth died in September 1944.
10th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) George Faulks attested on 11 April 1915 aged 18y. 11m. on a short service engagement (duration of war) and was posted to the Army Reserve the following day. However, his service was deemed to have begun on 11 December 1915. He was mobilised on 28 March 1916 but was either rejected or posted back to the Army Reserve on 29 March 1916 (details on record damaged). He was 'remobilised' on 10 April the same year and posted to the 14th Sherwood Foresters two days later. On 22 June 1916 he was appointed unpaid lance-corporal and appointed paid lance-corporal on 6 December 1916, a month before his death. George served with the BEF France from 9 July 1916 and was wounded (shell) on 8 August and admitted to No. 1/1 Casualty Clearing Station. Transferred to No. 3 Stationery Hospital Rouen the following day he was then transferred to No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station Rouen on 10 August. On 3 September he joined the base at Calais and 'proceeded to join his battalion' the next day. Faulks was killed in action in France on 10 January 1917 while fetching assistance for wounded comrades. He is buried in the Guards Cemetery Lesboeufs, France (grave reference: X.G.6). The history of the cemetery indicates that his grave was brought in after the Armistice. (See below) He was eligible for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs (extract): The village of Lesboeufs is 16km from the town of Albert. 'Lesboeufs was attacked by the Guards Division on 15 September 1916 and captured by them on the 25th. It was lost on 24 March 1918 during the great German offensive, after a stubborn resistance by part of the 63rd Bn. Machine Gun Corps, and recaptured on 29 August by the 10th Bn. South Wales Borderers. At the time of the Armistice, the cemetery consisted of only 40 graves (now Plot I), mainly those of officers and men of the 2nd Grenadier Guards who died on 25 September 1916, but it was very greatly increased when graves were brought in from the battlefields and small cemeteries round Lesboeufs.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'Duty nobly done' Inscription on family gravestone, Nottingham Northern Cemetery, Bulwell: 'Harry the beloved husband of Elizabeth Ann Faulks who fell asleep July 13th 1916 aged 56 years. Also of George their son who was killed in action in France Jany. 10th 1917 aged 20 years. A noble life sacrificed. Also of Beatrice their daughter who died Novr. 28th 1918 aged 26 years. Peace perfect peace. Also Elizabeth Ann beloved wife of the above, died Sep 12th 1944 aged 81 years. Reunited. Also Winnifred (sic) May and Harry their children who died in infancy, interred in Bulwell(?) churchyard.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 13 February 1917: ‘Faulks. Killed in action, January 10th 1917, Lance-Corporal George Faulks, Sherwood Foresters, aged 20. Too far away thy grave to see, but not too far to think of thee. From his sorrowing mother, sisters [Mabel, Beatrice, Emmeline], brother [John Henry], also Jack [poss. John Goodacre], Charlie [probably John Charles Murfit] (46, Latham-street, Bulwell).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
