George was born on July 1889 in Newton Heath, Manchester and was working as a Stover at a Dye works when he enlisted with the army in October 1910, joining the 2nd East Lancashire Brigade Royal Field Artillery. George was 5 feet 7 inches tall and had a girth (when fully expanded) of 32 and a ½ inches. By the start of the First World War George was a private in the 1st battalion of the Manchester Regiment.
The 1st Manchesters started the war in Jullundur, India before being moved to France where they served on the Western Front until December 1915, at which time they moved onto Mesopotamia, where they spent two years. The battalion also spent time in Egypt and ended the war in Palestine.
George was awarded the Victoria Cross on the 8th March 1916 for most conspicuous bravery and determination at the Battle of Dujaila. During the battle George was posted on the extreme right of the line to guard against any hostile attacks that might take place there. In the course of the battle the battalion were forced back by the enemies counter attacks but George did not fall back and instead stayed in his position completely alone, managing to keep the enemy back until he ran out of grenades at which point he finally fell back. His unbelievable bravery meant that the 1st Manchesters could withdraw steadily and safely minimising the amount of casualties they took.
George survived the war and continued to live in Manchester until he died on 10th November 1957 at the age of 68. George is buried at Philips Park Cemetery in Manchester along with his loving wife Florence Marie and his mother Esther Hewitt.
More about the Manchester Regiment can be found out at http://www.manchester-regiment.org.uk/ and http://www.tameside.gov.uk/archives
References
The London Gazette, 5th August, 1916
Ancestry
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