No.78986, Private, George Albert GRAVES
Aged 20
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George Graves was born in 1898 in Stetchworth (Newmarket Q4-1898 3B:487), son of Matthew and Mary Ann GRAVES (née HOLMES),
1901 census...Aged 2, he was at Cross Green, Dullingham, with his father Matthew GRAVES [44] engine driver on farm, born Bluntisham; his mother Mary Ann [41] born Somersham; brothers Albert [20] domestic gardener, born Somersham, John William [15] stable lad, born Somersham, Charles [13], born Somersham and Arthur [6] born Stetchworth, and sisters Helen [11] born Somersham and Minnie [8] born Stetchworth. 1911 census...Aged 12, still at Cross Green with his parents, brothers Charles and Arthur and sisters Minnie and Annie Elizabeth [9] born Dullingham. Two of Mary's eleven children had died. The pension card has the family still at Cross Green. His elder brother, Arthur, had died on the first day of the Somme, 1st July 1916.. see here |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. A comprehensive report on the actions of the 1st/4th Northumberland Fusiliers can be found here http://www.4thbnnf.com/180527_180531_aisne.html#27th In essence, the Battalion was subject to an intense barrage at 1 am, with much gas. Around 3.45 am the enemy attacked all along the line, almost parallel with Route 44 (Main road from Cambrai to Chalons sur Marne). This was repelled but renewed when the Germans reformed behind four tanks and broke through on the right flank before turning and overwhelming the right flank near Ville au Bois. By 4.15 the British artillery had been silenced and could give no covering fire.The Battalion CO was killed and at 5.15 the Brigadier ordered 5th Battalion to reinforce the battle zone, but the message did not arrive until 6.10 by which time one of the redoubts and Butte de L'Edmond were in enemy hands. Finally surrounded, they were captured and from that time the 4th and 6th battalions ceased to exist as fighting units. Scattered parties attempted to form cohesive units to try and prevent the Germans from crossing the River Aisne, but to no avail. The day ended with a new defensive position being established south of Ventelay. The Northumberland Fusiliers that day had 217 killed (177 with no known graves), 61 of them from the 1st/4th, the 5th and 6th battalions also suffering grievously. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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