George Albert's Story.
EARLY LIFE
George Albert Harding was born on 15 February and baptised on 16 April 1890 at Christ Church, Macclesfield, the son of Rachel Harding, a shirtmaker. Rachel married George Atkin in February 1891, and by the time of the census two months later the couple lived at 11 Armitt Street with one-year-old George (listed with the surname Atkin) and a three-week-old baby, Tom, who sadly dies the following year.
In 1901, eleven-year-old George was living at 69 Bridge Street, Macclesfield with his widowed grandmother, Hannah Harding, his mother Rachel, three aunts and a cousin, Arthur Harding. George was listed in this census with the surname Harding. Ten years later in 1911 George was living at the same address with his mother; by this time he had left school and was employed as a reedmaker's labourer.
In 1913 George married Maria Pimblott at St Paul's Church, Macclesfield; their son, Harry, was born the following year.
The family later lived at 7 Robinson St, Hathershaw, Oldham.
MILITARY SERVICE
After the war began, the family moved to Oldham where George worked in munitions. George joined the army reserve on 11 December 1915 and was mobilised on 28 June 1917, joining the Royal Naval Division. He was sent for training to the 3rd Reserve Battalion, Blandford, and drafted to the Anson Battalion in France on 30 October 1917.
On 26 January 1918 George was admitted to the 9th General Hospital in Rouen with trench foot, returning to the front near Rouen on 5 February. On 28 February 1918 he was reported to have been killed in action on 19 February. His death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 8 March 1918:
KILLED IN ACTION
Official news has been received of the death in action in France on February 19th of Able-Seaman George Albert Harding, Royal Naval Division, formerly of 69 Bridge St, Macclesfield, whose wife and child now reside at Oldham. Able-Seaman Harding was twenty-eight years of age and was formerly employed at the Lower Heys Mill. He left Macclesfield to take up munition work at Oldham just before joining up.
COMMEMORATION
Able Seaman (AB) George Harding is buried in Grave Ref. II. C. 2. of the Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, France. His widow asked for the inscription “AT REST” to be added to his headstone. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for AB George Harding, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, AB George Harding is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials. Elsewhere, he is commemorated on the Oldham war memorial.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Parish Baptism Registers (FindMyPast): Christ Church, Macclesfield
Parish Marriage Registers (FindMyPast): St Paul’s Church, Macclesfield
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901, 1911
Royal Naval Division Service Records (FindMyPast)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 8 March 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.