George William Lawford

GEORGE WILLIAM LAWFORD

Private 20710, 9th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Killed in Action 6th November 1917 aged 30

No Known Grave Commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium

Husband of Lily Lawford

Lived 35, Upper Beauregard Street, Heckmondwike

George was born on 7th May 1887, the second of the three sons of Robert Lawford, a Blacksmith of Lower Hall, Hightown, Liversedge and Naomi Frances Cracknell from Harlow in Essex, who had married on 25th December 1880 at Birstall Parish Church.

They had five children, Louisa (1881), James Arthur Haley (1883), George William (1887), Frances Eleanor (1890) and Freddy (1899). George was baptised at Liversedge Parish Church on 25th July 1888. By 1901 the family had moved to Eddercliffe in Littletown, Liversedge.

George was working as a Twister when he married Lily Walker, a 20 year old spinster of 2, Thornton Villa, Liversedge the daughter of James Walker, an Engineer, at Birstall Parish Church on 2nd July 1910. After their marriage they moved to 11, New Street, Woodlands in Oakenshaw where Lily found work as a Winder in a Worsted Spinning Mill. Their first child was a daughter, Frances Eleanor.

Sometime after the start of the war, George enlisted at Dewsbury in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry as Private 20710, first in the 2nd Battalion, before being transferred to the 1st Battalion and then into the 9th Battalion. His full service record has not survived. His battalion had moved close to the site of Hooge Crater near Ypres by October 31st 1917.

George had filled out his "soldiers will" on 29th October 1917, in case of his death, leaving his property and effects to his mother Mrs Naomi Lawford of Eddercliffe, Bradford Road, Liversedge. He was killed in action on 6th November 1917, but has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial panel 108 to 111.

The Cleckheaton Advertiser and Spenborough Times on 6th December 1917 carried the following information. "News has been received of the death in action of Private G. Lawford of the 9th KOYLI. Private John Hoyle of the same regiment, wrote to Mrs Lawford informing her of her husband’s death on November 6th. Prior to enlisting Private Lawford worked at Messrs. Stubley's of Batley. Deceased was 30 years of age and his wife and children reside at 35, Upper Beauregard Street, Heckmondwike.”

Medals: Victory and British

Commemorated: St Saviour’s Church Memorial (now in the care of Heckmondwike Parish Church), the Green Park Memorial and Vellum Roll.{KH-082}

Stubley Mill:- http://vivientomlinson.com/batley/ui85.htm

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