We remember George Henry Saddington

We remember George Henry Saddington

Also remembered by 10 people

Profile picture for George Henry Saddington

Timeline

Timeline

 
1893
birth Canning Town, West Ham, London United Kingdom Source:9238916 26th August 1893
1896
sibling Winifred Saddington Source:9603791 1896
1899
sibling Frank Saddington Source:9603791 1899
1901
sibling Florence May Saddington Source:9603791 1901
1905
sibling John Philip Saddington Source:9603791 1905
1907
employment Tobacco Industry Silvertown, West Ham United Kingdom Source:9603791 1907 - September 1914
1912
marriage Mary Elizabeth Price Source:9603791 9th November 1912 - 12th October 1917
1913
children George William John Saddington Source:9603791 1st February 1913
1914
enlistment Canning Town E., West Ham, London United Kingdom Source:9639103 5th September 1914
1914
service British Army Sergeant GS/1435 Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment 7th Battalion Source:9522051 September 1914 - 12th October 1917
1914
service British Army Sergeant GS/1435 Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment 7th Battalion Source:9603791 September 1914 - October 1917
1915
events Divisional Training Training Codford, Wiltshire United Kingdom King George V inspects the Battalion Source:9639404 4th May 1915 - 12th May 1915
1915
theatres France & Belgium: 1a Source:9522100 July 1915 - 12th October 1917
1915
theatres France & Belgium: 1a Source:9603791 July 1915 - 12th October 2017
1916
hospitalisation This photograph of George shows George standing at the rear of a ward in the Queen Mary Military Hospital. He has marked his position with a cross for the benefit of his wife Hospital/Institution Source:9525024 September 1916 - January 1917
1917
hospitalisation George convalesced at the Primrose Bank War Hospital. Burnley for a number of months and while there was a member of the Primrose Bank Concert Party Hospital/Institution Source:9525099 February 1917 - May 1917
1917
awards Military Medal (MM) British Award/Decoration Source:9542163 12th October 1917
1917
missing Source:9522100 12th October 1917 - 7th September 1918
1917
service British Army Sergeant GS/1435 Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment 7th Battalion Source:9522100 12th October 1917
service British Army Serjeant 1435 Royal West Kent Regiment Source:5089640
1917
death Died of wounds George was killed in action leading his Company Section against an enemy strong-point on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele. George was awarded the Military Medal for his valour. Poelcapelle, Flanders Belgium Source:9238916 Source:9603791 12th October 1917
burial Tyne Cot Memorial CWGC Cemetery/Memorial Tyne Cot, Ypres Body never recovered. Belgium Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 1016 to 108 Source:9603791 Source:9238916

Details

Details

Names
TypeName
First Names George Henry
Initials GH
Last Name Saddington
Source 9546533
First Names George Henry
Initials GH
Last Name Saddington
Source 9238916
Gender
GenderSource
Male
Contribution

Military Service

Military Service
ServiceNumberUnitSectionRankSource
British Army 1435 Royal West Kent Regiment Serjeant
British Army GS/1435 Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment 7th Battalion Sergeant
British Army GS/1435 Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment 7th Battalion Sergeant
British Army GS/1435 Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment 7th Battalion Sergeant
Awards
AwardTypeSource
1914/15 Star First World War Campaign/Service Medal
British War Medal First World War Campaign/Service Medal
Military Medal (MM) British Award/Decoration
Victory Medal First World War Campaign/Service Medal
Family
Children
NameRelationshipDatesSource
George William John Saddington son 1st February 1913
Parents
NameRelationshipDatesSource
Bessie Saddington mother
John George Saddington father
Siblings
NameRelationshipDatesSource
Winifred Saddington sister 1896
Frank Saddington brother 1899
Florence May Saddington sister 1901
John Philip Saddington brother 1905
Spouse
NameRelationshipDatesSource
Mary Elizabeth Price wife 9th November 1912
Religion
DateReligionSource
Anglican - Church of Eng, Irl, Wales or other

Media

Media

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  • Serjeant George Henry Saddington
    Inset from a group photograph of A Company, 7th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment while undertaking Divisional training at Colchester Barracks.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • The Silvertown Boys: 7th Royal West Kent Regiment
    George with fellow recruits from London's Docklands in Canning Town taken at Maidstone Barracks. George is in the centre row 3rd from right of picture.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • George (2nd Row from top, 4th from right)
    George with members of his Platoon part of A Company, 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • 55 Brigade Barracks,Colchester
    Undated postcard of his barrack rooms sent by George to his wife probably in early 1915 when undertaking Brigade Training in Colchester. George has marked his barrack room with a cross.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • 7th Battalion RWK Regiment parade in Colchester
    Undated postcard of the whole Regiment of some 850 men, including George, on a ceremonial march through Colchester.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • No.2 Infantry Records Office letter 17.9.18
    This letter to George's wife confirms that George was killed on 12.10.17 having previously been reported missing on the same date.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • His Majesty's Hospital Ship Asturias
    HMHS Asturias brought George home from France after he was wounded at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Wounded at Queen Mary Military Hospital, Whalley
    The hospital could take up to 2000 wounded and was housed in the Lancashire County Asylum in Whalley near Blackburn.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • A ward in the Queen Mary Military Hospital
    This undated photograph appears in the Sergeant Saddington Archives and shows George standing at the rear of the ward. He has marked his position with a cross for the benefit of his wife.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Primrose Bank War Hospital, Burnley
    Primrose Bank War Hospital was a converted workhouse and could house up to 300 wounded. This posed ward photograph appears in the Sergeant Saddington Archive and shows George sitting on Matron's right hand.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Fund raising event at Primrose Bank
    George is seen 3rd from right and is obviously a helper at the event.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • The Primrose Bank Concert Party
    The seven members of the Primrose Bank Concert Party on stage. George is sitting 2nd from right with the piano behind him and as an able keyboard player could very well have been the group's pianist

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • The Primrose Bank Concert Party
    Posed photograph of the Concert Party looking very smart with their matching outfits with cummerbunds. George is standing 2nd from right. The centrally seated compere could have been the most senior ranking soldier or maybe the most musically talented.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • George with the Primrose Bank Concert Party
    As with all of the photographs of George taken after his Somme injury there does not appear to be any visible sign of wounds.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Royal Commemorative Scroll for Sergeant Saddington
    His Majesty King George V requested that this Commemorative Scroll be sent to the next of kin of all British servicemen who had fallen in WW1.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Commander 18th Division commends George's bravery
    The Major General commanding 18th Division commends George's gallant conduct in the line of duty at Poelcapelle on 12th October 1917 and notes the commendations of his Regimental and Brigade Commanders. This will lead eventually to the award of the Military Medal.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Letter confirming the award of the Military Medal
    The letter written by Captain Reeves, Adjutant of the Royal West Kent Regiment, confirms that George has been awarded the Military Medal on 7th November 1917 for his bravery at Poelcapelle on 12th October 1917 and indicates where further information may be obtained. At this point George has been reported missing.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Letter to George's wife from a fellow Sergeant
    This letter from Sergeant Balls, a fellow Company Sergeant and friend, states that he has no further information as to George's fate. He also says how well-liked George was by his fellow sergeants and what a great loss he was to Company A.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Memorial Plaque: The Dead Man's Penny
    This plaque was sent to George's widow in February 1920. The plaque has the name George Henry Saddington embossed on it. Made of bronze, the decoration was popularly referred to as "The Dead Man's Penny". The Memorial Plaque was issued to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire Service personnel who were killed in WW1.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Mary Elizabeth Saddington
    This photograph of George's wife, Mary Elizabeth Saddington (nee Price), is undated but sent to him while serving on the Western Front.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Private George Henry Saddington
    Many new recruits would have these studio photos taken shortly after joining up. George looks a little ill-at-ease in a new unpressed uniform and although the photograph is undated it is likely to have been taken in September or October 1914.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • A fully suited young George
    This undated photograph of George in his mid-teens could have been taken at the time he started full time employment. School leaving age at this time was 14 or even earlier and the 1911 Census shows him as working for a tobacco manufacturer.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • George junior views his father's medal
    George's son, George William John Saddington, was born on 1st February 1913. He was not yet 5 when his father died and is seen in this undated studio photograph looking wistfully at his father's Military Medal.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • George Henry Saddington Birth Certificate
    This copy birth certificate verifies his date of birth and details his mother and father and other family members.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1914-1919
    Captain C.T. Atkinson's seminal history of the Regiment and including the exploits of the 7th Battalion from its formation through to 1919

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Sergeant Saddington M.M.: Passchendaele Hero
    This biography of Sergeant Saddington written by his grandson is a detailed account of the domestic and wartime experiences of the Sergeant. The book is in the IWM Library record number LBY K 17/5920 and a PDF copy may be obtained from [email protected]

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Sergeant Saddington biography: contents list
    This biography of Sergeant Saddington written by his grandson is a detailed account of the domestic and wartime experiences of the Sergeant. The book is in the IWM Library record number LBY K 17/5920 and a PDF copy may be obtained from [email protected] The contents list references by page all the major phases of the Sergeant's wartime service.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • British War and Victory Medals
    Covering letter from Army Records when British War and Victory Medals were sent to George's widow.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Poster featuring Sergeant Saddington
    Poster advertises special tribute evenings to the Sergeant and those who died on the Western Front. Programme contained live poetry, prose, songs and music from WW1

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Battalion audio memories Private Hodge - contents
    Imperial War Museum Sound Archives Catalogue Numbers 11341 and 15347. Private Hodge's recorded interviews relate in great detail to his military career from 1914-1918 in A Company of 7th Battalion Queens Own Royal West Kent. A must listen to anyone who wishes to know what serving on the Western Front entailed.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Royal West Kent Regiment Museum presentation
    Author George Saddington presents a copy of his book on Sergeant Saddington to Queens Own Royal West Kent Museum in Maidstone

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Army Bell Tents
    The type of accommodation Sergeant Saddington and his fellow recruits would have used during their basic training at Belhus Park, Essex in October and November 1914.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Staff Outing
    George's wife Mary Elizabeth (Lil) with fellow workers on a day's outing. As was her custom she has indicated her position with a cross before sending the photograph to George.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

  • Passchendaele Mud
    A view of the appalling conditions that George and comrades had to face when advancing to Poelcapelle on 12th October 1917.

    Contributed by:
    George85704

Communities

Communities

This person is not linked to any communities.

Evidence

Evidence

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Official Records

TitleConnected byMore information
Medal Index Card

External Evidence

ReferenceConnected byMore information
War Diaries of 7th Battalion Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment George85704
Sergeant Saddington MM: Passchendaele Hero George85704
History of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1914-1919 by C.T.Atkinson George85704
Donald Hodge audio recollections George85704

Multimedia

TitleConnected byMore information
Serjeant George Henry Saddington George85704
The Silvertown Boys: 7th Royal West Kent Regiment George85704
George (2nd Row from top, 4th from right) George85704
55 Brigade Barracks,Colchester George85704
7th Battalion RWK Regiment parade in Colchester George85704
No.2 Infantry Records Office letter 17.9.18 George85704
His Majesty's Hospital Ship Asturias George85704
Wounded at Queen Mary Military Hospital, Whalley George85704
A ward in the Queen Mary Military Hospital George85704
Primrose Bank War Hospital, Burnley George85704
Fund raising event at Primrose Bank George85704
The Primrose Bank Concert Party George85704
The Primrose Bank Concert Party George85704
George with the Primrose Bank Concert Party George85704
Royal Commemorative Scroll for Sergeant Saddington George85704
Commander 18th Division commends George's bravery George85704
Letter confirming the award of the Military Medal George85704
Letter to George's wife from a fellow Sergeant George85704
Memorial Plaque: The Dead Man's Penny George85704
Mary Elizabeth Saddington George85704
Private George Henry Saddington George85704
A fully suited young George George85704
George junior views his father's medal George85704
George Henry Saddington Birth Certificate George85704
Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1914-1919 George85704
Sergeant Saddington M.M.: Passchendaele Hero George85704
Sergeant Saddington biography: contents list George85704
British War and Victory Medals George85704
Poster featuring Sergeant Saddington George85704
Battalion audio memories Private Hodge - contents George85704
Royal West Kent Regiment Museum presentation George85704
Army Bell Tents George85704
Staff Outing George85704
Passchendaele Mud George85704

Stories

We remember George Henry Saddington

Also remembered by 10 people