Edward's Story.
Birkenhead News 07 April 1915
ANOTHER LOCAL “SCOT” KILLED.
Brother Invalided with Frost-bite
LETTER FROM THE CAPTAIN
It is with regret that we announce the death of Private Edward George, aged 19, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. George, of 7 Mather Road, who was killed in action on April 1st.
Private George was a member of the Dingle C.C. and on the outbreak of hostilities he joined the Liverpool Scottish, with several of his friends. He left with his regiment for the front in January and took part in may heavy engagements. In a letter written on the day before he was killed he said :- We were relieved from duty early on Monday morning after a trying two days. The first of the two nights we were in the dug-outs in a wood. The next night as I was just dozing off, an order came through to move our gun to the trench a few hundred yards the other side of the wood.
We spent a day in the trench, being all right only for the cold. That night we moved the gun to a fresh position. It was a dickens of a way down, and crossing a field two fellows who were with us got hit in the arms by stray bullets. That night we were relieved, and I had a good night’s rest.” He concluded by saying :- “We are going on duty to-night and all being well I will write later.”
However, it was in this action that this gallant youth was killed. In the letter intimating his death, dated April 2nd, Captain Bryden McKinnell, of the Machine Gun Section, writes :- “It is with deep regret I have to tell you of the death of your son, Private Edward George, Machine Gun Section. He was killed in action yesterday about 2p.m. by shell fire whilst fighting for his King and country. The only consolation I can give you in your great loss is that death was instantaneous, and he did not suffer. He was ever bright, cheery and did his work well. I saw him buried alongside two of his comrades who were killed by the same shell, in a small enclosed graveyard behind the firing line. Please accept the sincere sympathy of the section and myself.”