Photo: Sherri Gropp

George Winter

Albert Edward Winter

James Winter

Thomas Winter

There were four brothers called Winter who served in the Great War:-John George, James Chadwick Thomas Snowball and Albert Edward

John George Winter (George), Durham Light Infantry, enlisted at Ferryhill the same day as his younger brother James Chadwick Winter (Jim) and they were both assigned to the 1/8th.

John George's (Private 3985) Medal Card does not state exactly when he was posted to France however it must have been in 1916 as he was not entitled to the 14/15 Star. His serial number changed as did all territorial numbers in 1917 to Private 301013 D.L.I. whilst he was at the front and later he was made a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, number 458772.

He and his brother Jim were engaged in the same battlefield September 29th 1916 and John George was witness to his brother’s death. This left John George severely traumatised. Later injured and gassed as recorded on the casualty list of October 8th 1917, he was sent home to convalesce at Sedgefield General Hospital.

John George never fully recovered from his injuries, the shell shock or the horror of seeing his brother die and spent prolonged periods in Winterton Hospital known back then as Sedgefield Lunatic Asylum.

He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

John George was married to Elizabeth Birkbeck with three children and died July 6th 1924 at Sedgefield Lunatic Asylum. He is interred at Duncombe Cemetery, Ferry Hill, area B126.

The attached photo shows George (left) with brother James Chadwick (left) and their father John Thomas behind.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.