Pte 25301 George Earle

• Age: 30
• From: Bebington
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 27th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

George Earle was born in Bebington in the June quarter of 1887 the son of George Earl and his wife Margaret (nee Hargreaves). His parents married at All Saints Church, Childwall, Liverpool in 1877. He was baptised at St Andrew's Church, Bebington on 16th June 1887. His father is shown as an engineer by trade.  The family had a son George who ws born in 1884 but sadly died in infancy. 

The 1901 Census shows George is 13, and at school, living at 14 Egerton Road, Lower Bebington with his parents and three siblings. His father, George, is a 47 year old  marine engine fitter born in Gravesend, Kent, whilst his mother Margaret is aged 44 born in Woolton, Liverpool. His siblings are lsited as; Grace P. born Garston, Margaret 18 born Lower Bebington and James 15 also born inLower Bebington. 

He was enrolled at St Andrews, C.of.E. School in 1891. 

The 1911 Census finds the family living at 1 Cecil Road, Lower Bebington. George is single and a grocers assistant for the Provident Society. He lives with his mother and 3 siblings. His mother Margaret is head of the household and is described as a wife, born in Woolton in 1857. His siblings are listed as Grace Plant Earle b.1879 in Garston, whilst his two other siblings were born in Lower Bebington; Margaret b.1882 and James Turner b.1886 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 25301 when he was killed in action on the 27^th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive, aged 30. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

The Battalion diary gives details of the events of the day:

The night of 26^th into 27^th  was spent “standing to” in the new position at ROUVECY BOUCHOIR  During the morning the attack on our right and left continued , the Battalion, now being in the support line and was withdrawn at 11am. Both flanks having gone and a position was taken up on a line FOLIES-ARVILLERS the Battalion supporting the 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment & 2^nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers. This position was held during the night.

Soldiers Effects to sister Margaret.

His death was reported in the local press:

EARL - March 27, killed in action, Private George, (K.L.R.), younger and dearly loved son of George and Margaret Earl of 1 Cecil Road, New Ferry. (One of the best.)

Pension went initially to mother Margaret, but after her death in 1919 was transferred to his father.

His father died in the March quarter of 1932 aged 78.

George earned his three medals.

His medals went up for sale in 2014:-

E Military Sale

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Viewing:  399 Strand, London, WC2R 0LX

Monday 17 November 2014 09:30 – 16:30

Tuesday 18 November 2014 09:30 – 16:30

MILITARY MEDALS, LIVERPOOL REGIMENT, 1914-15 STAR (4) (17327 Sjt. J. H. Flockhart. L’Pool R.) and (25301 Pte G. Earl. L’ Pool R.) and (21762 Pte W. Meadows. L’ Pool R.), and (15380 L.Cpl N. H. Carey. L’ Pool R.); medals officially impressed, one loose, two mounted on card for display. Generally good very fine or better, toned. (4)Serjeant John Henry Flockhart, 19th (Pals) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, KIA 01.08.1916 Private George Earle (note spelling), 19th (Pals) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, KIA 27.03.1918 Private William Meadows, ‘C’ Company, 19th (Pals) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, KIA 30.07.1916 £80-100.

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