Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 202819 George Dick Martindale

Age: 35
From: Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Wednesday 19th December 1917
Commemorated at: Railway Dugout B.g. Zillebeke
Panel Ref: VII.U.1

George Dick Martindale was born in Liverpool in the 3rd Quarter of 1882 the son of James Martindale and his wife Catherine (nee Dick) and the husband of Margaret. His parents married in 1877 in St. Catherine’s, Edge Hill, Liverpool. His father was a widower, occupation tailor, born in Carlisle; his mother was born in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. He had older step brothers William, Richard, and Robert, and a step sister Margaret. George was the third of seven children. He had an older brother Joseph and an older sister Elizabeth, and younger siblings Hugh and Kate. Twins Charles and John were born in 1886, but both died within a few months.

His father James died, aged 50, in May 1889 when George was 6, the family was living at 5 Boswell Street.

In 1891 his widowed mother is head of household at 11 Alderson Road, Wavertree. George is 8.

By 1901 they have moved to 42 Vandyke Street, Toxteth Park. George is 18, working as a plumber’s clerk.

George married Margaret Myers in Stockport in 1908.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 34 Corney Street, Smithdown Road, Liverpool. George Dick is aged 28, born 1883 occupation coal dealer who was born in Liverpool. His wife Margaret is aged 32, born 1879 in Bradford. They have been married for two years and have one son George born 25^th September 1909. They went on to have a further two sons Thomas James born 19^th October 1911 and John born 9^th January 1915.

He enlisted or was conscripted in Liverpool and was serving with the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 202819 when he was killed during a wiring work party on the night of the 18/19th December 1917, aged 35.

On 17th December the battalion moved up to Hedge Street Tunnels from Ontario Camp at about 3 p.m., relieving the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers. On arrival, working parties were supplied ... for digging communication trench N side of Menin Road and ... for carrying A (?) frames and sheet iron from Plumers Dump to Support Line.

The battalion War Diary for the 18th December records -

“The Battalion was relieved in HEDGE STREET Tunnels by the 20th Bn KLR, the last company leaving HEDGE STREET Tunnels about 5:30 p.m.

The Battalion arrived in the left sub sector, the relief being complete by 8 p.m.

E Track and the vicinity of the TOWER were shelled heavily with H.E.’s for about an hour.

A good amount of wire was put up during the night.

There were a few casualties during the night, 1 OR being killed and 6 OR wounded.”

George was killed in action on 19th December 1917 aged 39.

Graham Maddox in “Liverpool Pals”, records 4 from the 19th Bn KIA on 19/12/1917: Ptes. 50595 Arthur W. Beament, 48113 Oswald Cliffe, 202819 George D. Martindale, and 50047 Thomas Goodman.

CWGC shows 5, including L/Cpl 12067 John Dandy.

George now rests at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground in Belgium. There is a mis-spelling of his surname (Martingale). This has been notified to the CWGC who have advised that this will be corrected. It is hoped that once the correction has taken place that we will receive a photograph of the corrected headstone.

Railway Dugouts Burial Ground is 2 Km west of Zillebeke village, where the railway runs on an embankment overlooking a small farmstead, which was known to the troops as Transport Farm. Burials began there in April 1915 and continued until the Armistice, especially in 1916 and 1917, when Advanced Dressing Stations were located in the dugouts and the farm. The names "Railway Dugouts" and "Transport Farm" were both used for the cemetery. In the summer of 1917 a considerable number were obliterated by shell fire before they could be marked.

Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, George had served for less than a year when he was killed.

His wife, Margaret, placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 7th January 1918:

“December 19, 1917, killed in action, Private George Dick Martindale (K.L.R.), dearly loved husband of Margaret Martindale, 71 Langton Road, Wavertree.”

George’s sons were 8, 6, and 2 years old when he died. His widow Margaret received his Army effects of £7-11s-7d and a War Gratuity of £3. She received a pension of £1-9s-7d for herself and three children.

Probate records show his estate of £154 and 15 shillings went to Margaret.

His mother died in 1925.

His brother Hugh served over 10 years in the R.F.A. before the war and in the Royal Engineers, 1915-1920. He died in 1922 aged 38.

Margaret never remarried. In 1939 she was still living at 71 Langton Road, working as a “monthly nurse”, with youngest son John, 24, a water inspector/plumber. Margaret died aged 79 in 1956. John died in 2004, aged 89. His eldest son George became a joiner/carpenter, also lived to age 89 and died in 1998. His second son Thomas was also a joiner, and died in 1976, aged 64.

George is commemorated on the following Memorials:

St Bridgets Church Roll Of Honour, Wavertree, Liverpool

Panel 7 Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall.

We currently have no further information on George Dick Martindale. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

89th Brigade On This Day.

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