Private. 5 Company, 3rd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. Service number 19463.
Early life
George was born in Oxenhope in 1887 with his birth being registered in Keighley in the last quarter of that year. His parents were Frederick and Clara Greenwood and his father was a Joiner.
By the 1891 census George was three and living at 64, Low Utley in Keighley with his parents and brothers George (age 6) and Frederick (age 1).
By 1901 the whole family had moved back to Oxenhope and were living at Lowertown. George was 13 but shows no occupation, which is unusual as he would be expected to be working in a local mill by that time as were his mother and his older brother Joseph. He now had a third brother, Bertram, aged 7.
In 1911 they were recorded living at 209 West Lane in Keighley and George was now 23 and working on a farm. His older brother Joseph had moved out and George with his brothers Frederick and Bertram now had a younger sister Doris Amy, aged 4.
War service
George attested for the West Riding Regiment on 10th December 1915 at Settle and his enlistment was approved at Halifax on 2nd March 1916. He gave his age as 28 years and 2 months and his occupation as farm servant. He was placed in Group II of the Army special reserve until March 1st when he was called up to Halifax for his medical on 2nd March which shows he was 5 feet 6.5 inches tall, weight 139 lbs and with a 37 in chest with good physical development (probably as a result of farming) so he was slightly above average development for the time. He was in training at North Shields from 4th March onwards. His next of kin was his father Frederick, living at 19, Emily Street in Keighley.
Whilst home on leave in April 1916, George drowned himself in a water tank at Bracewell.
George was buried at Utley cemetery in Keighley on 28th April 1916. He has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone marking his grave.
The inquest of George Greenwood’s death took place at the Town Hall in Barnoldswick on 25th April 1916 before the Coroner, Edgar Wood.
Verdict Returned: Drowned himself in a reservoir in Hesketh Rough Pasture, Bracewell, being at the time of unsound mind.
Remarks: Superintendent Vaughan, I beg to report that in company with Inspector Cunningham and PC 404 Milburn at 2 pm attended inquest at the Town Hall, Barnoldswick before Edgar Wood Esq. (Coroner) and a jury – on view of the body of George Greenwood, a Private (19463) 5th Company, 3rd W.R.Regt., stationed at North Shields, after hearing the following evidence the above verdict was returned.
(1) Witness. Clara Greenwood, 19, Emily St. Keighley states: _ I have seen the body and identified it as that of my son George. Previous to joining the Army 6 weeks ago he worked for James Wilson Hartley, New Ing Farm, Gisburn. On Saturday 15th inst. he called at home (on leave) and stayed about an hour and then said he would catch the train to Barnoldswick. On Wednesday 19th inst. I received a letter from his Lieutenant telling him to return at once. I took it to him at Bonny Black Farm, Brogden, and gave it to him and he threw it in the fire and said he would not go back. He never did any good until he was 21 and when 16 years of age was in the Asylum 3 months. He was subjected to Epilectic Fits. He said he would drown himself before going back to the Army.
(2) Clara Dyson, Domestic, Bonny Black Far, Brogden, states: I have known the deceased to 2 or 3 years. He came to the farm on Saturday 15th on leave and stayed at our house for a week. I saw him again on Sunday night 23rd inst, he had tea with us then left the house about 6 pm. I did not see him again.
Richard Elsworth Farm Servant, Hesketh Farm, Bracewell states:- I knew the deceased and remember him joining the Army. He did not want to go but he never appealed. I saw him last Tuesday and shaved him. He said he was going back on Wednesday and seemed alright. I saw him in company with his mother on Wednesday 19th inst. She was persuading him to go back. He said he would not as he should only get 2 or 3 days in the Guard Room, he could not stand that. About 6.45 pm Sunday 23rd inst. I met him going towards Barnoldswick. I said to him “Tha’ll catch it.” He replied “I can’t stand soldiering, they have broken my heart, tha’ll find me in the tank.” I saw Broughton Horner and J. W. Hartley and told them what he had said.
James Wilson Hartley New Ing Farm, Gisburn, says:- I knew the deceased and he worked for me three weeks prior to joining the Army. He never appealed. He was a bit curious at times. I never knew he had been in an Asylum. I saw him on Friday 21st inst. he said he was going back the following day. I told him he better had or he would get into trouble. I saw him again on 23rd about 6 pm. I was about 2 or 3 hundred yards away. I and Broughton Harmer was having a walk round and we saw Richard Elsworth. He told us what the deceased had said to him and we went and looked in the tank at Hesketh Rough and saw his body in the bottom. Harmer gave information to the Police.
Broughton Harmer a weaver of Barnoldswick says: I knew the deceased and saw him about 6 pm of Sunday 23rd inst. getting his tea at Bonny Black Farm. I said you will have nice time to get the 7.30 pm train at Barnoldswick to go back. He said he was going and left the farm, I was walking round with James Wilson Hartley afterwards and met Richard Elsworth, He told us what deceased had said to him and we looked in the tank and saw his body there and I gave information to the Police.
PC404 Milburn states:- At 8.50 pm on Sunday 23rd he was informed by brought Harmer that a man named George Greenwood had drowned himself in the Bracewell reservoir in Hesketh Rough Field. He proceeded there but owing to the darkness and the danger he was unable to do anything. AT 9 am on Monday 24th inst. in company with myself he removed the body and brought it to the mortuary at Barnoldswick.
Signed John Williams PS 14.
Post War and Remembrance:
His father Frederick received George’s back pay of £2 18s. 4d. on 26th June 1916 and acknowledged receipt of George’s memorial scroll on 5th April 1921. The Army pension was refused.
George is remembered in Keighley’s Great War roll of honour book which is on permanent public display in Keighley Library.
Information sources:
England & Wales births 1837-2006
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
British Army Service Records 1914-1920
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929
Keighley News archives, Keighley Library.
The National Library of Scotland Mapping service.
