Le Grande Beaumart British Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Neasham Storey was the only surviving child of William Neasham Storey born 1862 at Old Cornsay and Mary Ann Terry, known as Polly, born 1869 at Butterknowle, both in County Durham, who were married in 1892 in the district of Lanchester. He was registered in 1892 as George Neasham Storey, his sibling, gender unknown, died in infancy.
When he was 8 years old they were living at 5, New House Road, Esh, near Cornsay Colliery, where his father was the steward of the workingmens' club and assisted by 34-year-old Dorothy Mortough, barmaid. Ten years later Mary was helping her husband in running the club and they now had a domestic servant, Lily Sill aged 21 years, George was an apprentice joiner with a joiner and builder’s firm, by 1914 he had changed occupation and was a motor driver.
George Neasham Storey was attested December 11th 1915 at Consett and posted the following day to the Army Reserve and not mobilised until April 1916. He and his cousin went to enlist together, taking with them a letter of recommendation written by M. Curry, Chairman of the Lanchester Club & Institute, Cornsay, dated April 3rd 1916, which they presented to Lieut. Hill, the Recruitment Officer at Consett, it reads, “My Dear Sir, the bearer F.W. Storey and his cousin G N. Storey are both anxious to join the Army Transport Service, and they have both got the offer subject to your sanction. I am writing to say that I hope you will grant them this favour, they are both highly respectable young men and had an opportunity presented itself before now they would have been away. Thanking you for a favourable reply. Yours faithfully, M. Curry.” A letter requesting the same was also sent by Sergt. R. Johnson from the Recruiting Office at Sunderland where they had been examined and passed, “fit,” April 5th 1916.
Assigned as Private 31689, George was posted to join to 21st (Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry at their barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, where he failed to pass his test as a driver and joined his regiment at Catterick before they moved to Hornsea. Whilst at Hornsea he made a will in favour of his mother before departing for the Western Front, July 21st 1916, as part of the British Expeditionary Force, disembarking in France later that same day. At the D.L.I. Depot he was transferred to the 18th Battalion joining them in the field, August 7th 1916, as part of the new draft intended to rebuild the battalion after the loss of so many men during the Battles of the Somme. The 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry continued to serve on the Western Front until November 1918 but was never quite the same again. His father William Neasham Storey died during the 3rd quarter (July/Aug/Sep) 1916, either just prior or just after his departure which must have caused his mother added grief.
Private Storey was twice admitted to hospital for minor ailments during 1917 while the battalion was in action in the Battle of the Ancre and Arras sector. In 1918 they saw action in the Battle of St. Quentin, at Bapaume and the First Battle of Arras. Private Storey was reported as missing, April 12th 1918, his mother was informed and after extensive investigation as to his whereabouts he was struck off, “death presumed due to lapse of time as having occurred on or since 12. 4. 1918.”
After the death of her husband and the presumed death of her son, Polly continued to run the Workmens Institute at Cornsay Colliery, where, March 8th 1920, she received a letter from No.1 Infantry Records Office, York, which dashed her hopes that one day her son might be found alive, it reads as follows, “Madam, With reference to the late No. 31689, Private G N. Storey, 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, whose death is presumed to have occurred on or since 12. 4. 1918, I regret to inform you that information has been received from the War Office notifying that it must now be definitely accepted that the above named soldier was killed, and that his grave has been located in Le Grande Beaumart British Cemetery, 4 1/2 miles W.N.W., of Armentieres. The deceased soldiers name will shortly be published in the official casualty lists. I am, Madam, Your obedient servant, for Colonel, No.1 Infantry Records.”
The remains of Private Storey were found at map reference SHT 36. A. 15. b. 4. 5. along with that of 2nd Lieut. J. Long, Pte. A. Fairly, Pte F. Merryweather and Pte G. A. Grey all of the 18th Battalion D.L.I. in a communal grave, marked with a single cross, recognition confirmed by cap badge and/or disc. They were exhumed and brought into Le Grande Beaumart British Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord, France, and re-buried with all reverence and honour by an Army chaplain. Private 31689 George Neasham Storey Durham Light Infantry, aged 25 years at the time of his demise in 1918 and single is at rest grave II. E. 3.
His mother received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. She commissioned at a cost of 7 shillings 10 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten.”
Details of the demise of Mary Storey nee Terry unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Neasham Storey is remembered at Cornsay on C116.01 and at Quebec on Q2.05
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 81
