Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 2472187

Reference: WO372/7

Title: Medal Index Card

Description: Medal index cards were created by the Army Medal Office towards the end of the First World War. They record the medals that men and women who served in the First World War were entitled to claim.

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UPP: GBM/MCI/2474864

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 7614856

Title: GEORGE FITCH'S DEATH CERTIFICATE

Description: SCAN OF ORIGINAL

Connected by: Ian54207

Source information

ID: 7616512

Title: George Fitch and Sapper George Stephens

Description: In uniform with a comrade. George spent from the Summer of 1917 to the Spring of 1918 at Newark with No. 5 Depot Company and later C Company 3rd Training Reserve Battalion RE. I understand George was still recovering from a leg wound at this time and both he and Sapper Stephens wear wound ribbons on their cuffs. Sapper Stephens is not mentioned in any of George's surviving correspondence and this is the only photograph of him among his collection.

Connected by: Ian54207

Additional: George Fitch was my Grandfather. The photograph is from a family collection I inherited from my mother. The date and place taken are on the back as well as the name rank and serial numbers of both men.

Source information

ID: 7618189

Title: George Fitch early in his military service

Description: Studio photograph taken by Morehen & Co, 6 High Street, Old Brompton, Kent. The studio was a short distance from the Royal Engineers' Brompton Barracks. Exact date unknown.

Connected by: Ian54207

Source information

ID: 7618199

Title: Mentioned in Despatch Certificate

Description: Photograph of original certificate.

Connected by: Ian54207

Additional: George Fitch was my grandfather. I inherited his certificate from my mother. The despatch referred to covers the period of the evacuation of allied troops from Gallipoli. I have yet to establish what actions on the part of George Fitch it relates to but suspect it is connected with the building/repair of jetties to facilitate the evacuation.

Source information

ID: 7620677

Reference: 1911gbc

Title: 1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription

Connected by: Ian54207

UPP: GBC/1911/RG14/02463/0867/6

Additional: George Fitch living with his sister and her family in Southeast London while working in his prewar occupation as a carpenter in the Old Kent Road

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 7621119

Title: George Fitch (in cap) in his pre-war occupation.

Description: George and a colleague stand at the gates of their place of work. It is not dated but post cards addressed to him ℅ his employer are dated from 1908 (presumably when he was an apprentice) until at 1913. In the 1911 Census his occupation is given as ladder maker. When I was a courier in London in the late 1970s the structure to support long ladders was still there.

Connected by: Ian54207

Additional: The man on the right is my grandfather. The photograph is from a family collection and was left to me by my mother, his daughter.

Source information

ID: 7621124

Title: George Fitch and comrades in 133 Fortress Company

Description: On the day of their departure for the Mediterranian from their training base at Buxton, Derbyshire 133 Fortress Company RE pose together for a final photograph. The note on the back says that local people paid for a band to see them off.

Connected by: Ian54207

Additional: My Grandfather, George Fitch is seated in the second row, fourth from the right. The photograph is from a family collection and was left to me by my mother, his daughter.

Source information

ID: 7621728

Reference: 1901gbc

Title: 1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription

Connected by: Ian54207

UPP: GBC/1901/0011045098

Additional: This is George Fitch living at his childhood home.

Credit: © General Register Office

Source information

ID: 7625439

Title: Front of postcard dated 24th July 1915

Description: Standard postcard provided to passengers of Cunard ships, in this case the SS Asconia apparently in use as troop transport.

Connected by: Ian54207

Additional: This card is from a family collection passed to me by my mother, George Fitch's daughter.

Source information

ID: 7625441

Title: Rear of postcard dated 24th July 1915

Description: George Fitch writes home as the troop transport he is aboard sails from the UK through the Mediterranian. I don't know yet whether it sailed first to Egypt (most likely I believe) or directly to The Dardenelles. He refers to this as their 19th "day on the water".

Connected by: Ian54207

Additional: This card is among items in a family collection I inherited from my mother, George Fitch's daughter.

Source information

ID: 7625739

Title: George Fitch convalescing.

Description: George Fitch (standing) with other wounded soldiers during their convalescence. They all wear the bright blue tunics, white shirts and red ties which are indicative of their status with the caps of their various units. There are no indications of where the photo was taken or who the other men are. I believe it would have been taken in the latter part of 1916 or early 1917.

Connected by: Ian54207

Additional: This his my grandfather. The photograph is from a family collection I inherited from my mother, George Fitch's daughter.

Source information

ID: 8634018

Name: N/A

Reference: Own papers inherited from my mother.

Title: Diary 1945

Description: My mothers diary.

Connected by: Ian54207

Additional: My mother was the daughter of George Ernest Fitch and the entry "Dad's birthday" on 27th January clearly relates to him.

Source information

ID: 8634395

Title: George Fitch's decoration

Description: Extract from Register of Royal Engineers awarded decoration.

Connected by: Ian54207

Additional: This is my Grandfather. This was the date of his disembarkation in the Mediterranian theatre