8999, Private, George STERRY
Aged 29
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Born in Newmarket in Q2-1886 [Newmarket 3b:565] son of George and Harriet Jane STERRY (née JACKSON).
His father died the year of his birth and his mother married Henry James BOND in Q2-1889. The family history is complicated then by the way that the Sterry children appear to have adopted the BOND surname for the purpose of the census. 1891 census...It appears that Harry George BOND [5] was at Mineral Cottages, Granby Street, Newmarket with his father ? Henry [35] stableman born Chelmsford, his mother Harriet Jane [33] born Marshland, Lincoln, sister Lydia Louisa [8] born East Grinstead, Sussex, and brother Thomas Frank [5 months]. It appears the family as using the BOND surname for all the children. 1901 census...No sign of George, but his mother (now recorded as Newmarket born) is living in Grosvenor Yard with husband H.BOND a plasterers labourer born Chelmsford, and son Freddie [12] daughters Alice [7] and Dorothy [3]. the children are all recorded as Newmarket born. 1911 census...George [25] was a private in the 1st Border Regiment at Sale Barracks, Rangoon. At 5 Grosvenor Yard are his mother, her husband H BOND, daughter May [13] and son Jack [20]. Now all the family are recorded as Newmarket born. Despite the lack of continuity in childrens' records, this has to be the family associated with George STERRY He gave his next of kin at times as Stepfather Harry and mother Jane. They were Henry and Harriett Jane BOND of 5 Grosvenor Yard, Newmarket. |
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There are over 60 pages of his military records but some are duplicated and many are badly damaged and illegible. George seems at times to be of exemplary
behaviour and others times under the influence of alcohol. One time his sister, Mrs Lydia Louisa Simpson, had get his commanding officer's assistance to have him
write a letter to her. His personal effects (1 photo, 1 postcard and 5 letters were sent to his mother in Grosvenor Yard, but possible did not reach her as
the Army were asking the Newmarket Police to find his next of kin for them. His sister, Mrs Lydia Louisa Simpson of 28 West Square, St Georges Road, Lambeth
was sent his medals and Memorial plaque. There is a record of the BOND family address as being 3 Grafton Place, Grafton Street, Newmarket.
He enlisted in Kingston on Thames in 4th Battalion East Surrey Regiment #4298,at the age of 19 yrs 1 month in 1905, being 5'6" (167.6 cm)tall, weighing 126 lbs (57.3 kg) lbs and chest expansion of 2 inches. Army life suited him as after 6 months he was 5 feet 6.5 inches (168.9 cm) inches, 129 lbs (58.7 kg) with a chest 32" to 34.5" (81.3 to 87.6 cm). He gave his next of kin as mother, Mrs J BOND of 5 Grosvenor Yard, Newmarket Transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers (# 1245) on 25th May 1905 he proceeded to Newcastle where he remained until 4th July 1905, then an unreadable attachment, before serving in Limerick from 15th Septemer 1905 until 12th October 1906. He took a bounty of 2 guineas to transfer to the Border Regiment on 16 August 1906 . After that he served at Tidworth Camp until 2nd November 1906 when he sailed on the HMT "Sicilia" to Gibraltar, arriving 8th November. He served in Gibraltar from 8th November 1806 until 3rd Octber 1908. On 4th October he sailed to India on RMT "Plassy", transferring on 23rd October to RIMS "Northbrook" which arrived ? on the 30th. Eventually we can read he was at Wellington (in Madras) from 4th November 1908 to 30th September 1910. On the 1st October 1910 he sailed in RIMS "Dufferin" arriving in Rangoon (Burma) on 7th October 1910 where he remained until 1st March 1912. He seems to have been awarded the Indian General Service Medal 1909, but which clasp is unknown, but given the years, it has to be North West Frontier.. He was then repatriated early from India as his period of Army service had expired. Transferred to the Reserves, ( after exemplary service) he gave his address as 5 Grosvenor Yard, Newmarket. He was now 5'7" tall, 36 1/2" chest. Recalled to the colours he was posted to the B.E.F, arriving in France on 25th November 1914. Shortly before his death he was found guilty of "drunkeness on active service and it seems to read his sentence of 14 days in prison was remitted. After his death on 12th March 1915 there was much correspondence trying to find his family to pass on his effects and medals. The Battle of Neuve Chappelle was the first attempt by the British to attack the Germans and initially seemed to be going well. However much of the barbed wire had not been cut, communication break downs led to confusion and eventually on the 12th the Germans halted the advance and Allied forces had captured a small salient 2,000 yards wide and 1,200 yards deep, along with 1,200 German prisoners, at the cost of 7,000 British and 4,200 Indian casualties. The 2nd Borders had 52 killed that day, and only 2 have identified graves. |
photo: Rodney Gibson
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details