Born: 1881, Bradford
Died: 3 September 1916, Somme
Buried:
Address: 2 Junction Terrace, Bolton, Bradford
Parents: John and Emma, nee Steel
Spouse: Catherine, nee Hart
Siblings: Sarah, Albert, Willie, Ernest
Occupation: Farm labourer
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: L Cpl
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park and St Luke’s; Thiepval Memorial
Children:
Regiment: King’s Own Scottish Borderers
George Kitchen
George Kitchen was born in 1881
in Bradford the eldest of five
children of John and Emma, nee
Steel.
On the night of the 1891 census
George was staying next door to his
family with his maternal
grandmother Sarah Steel.
By 1901, 20-year-old George was a
scrapper in a quarry.
In 1910 George married Catherine
Hart known as Kate and they went
to live with his parents John and
Emma at 415 Harrogate Road.
George was now working as a farm
labourer.
At the time of his enlistment
George and Kate were
living at 2 Junction
Terrace, Bolton.
George enlisted, probably
in 1915, as Private 22735
in the 2nd Battalion of the
King’s Own Scottish
Borderers.
He arrived on the Western
Front at Easter 1916 and
his Regiment were in
action during the Battle of the
Somme at High Wood, Guillemont,
and Flers Courcelette which
involved front line fighting during
July, August and September.
During this period George was
promoted to Lance Corporal.
He died in action on the
3rd September 1916. He
was 36 years of age.
In a letter to his sister, a
Corporal in his platoon
wrote “It is with a sad
heart I write to you.
Believe me he did not
suffer much and we
buried him just behind
the lines.
“You have the satisfaction of
knowing that he died a hero.
“Hoping the Lord with help you
and yours in your great trouble. He
was well liked by every one of us,
knew no fear and did his duty
nobly right to the finish.
“You have the deepest sympathy
from me and all the rest of the
platoon. He fought and died for his
King and country”.
Although he received a burial just
behind the lines George is
remembered on the Thiepval
Memorial which records the name
of the men who fell on the Somme
battlefields but bodies were not
found for burial. It is likely that
his initial grave was never found.
He left his effects to his widow
Catherine who received £2.10.3d
on the 1st July 1917 and a War
Gratuity of £3.0.0d on the 18th
September 1919.
.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
