Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-

George was born on December 13th 1887 at Startforth and sometime later was baptised on July 2nd 1893. He was the son of George (died 1916) and his wife Henrietta (nee Walton). The couple had 12 children together but sadly one died.

The 1891 census shows the family living at Bridge End, Startforth. The siblings included Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Charles, Henry, Isabella, George and Dora. Several of the children worked in the linen factory. Their father was a stone quarryman.

George married his sweetheart, Violet Dobson on May 28th 1910. Violet's parents ran the Blue Bell Inn. George and Violet had 3 children, Margaret, Thomas and Mary. George was a coal miner at this time. They lived at Thorngate, Barnard Castle.

He joined up at Newcastle on 9th August 1914. He was promoted to Lance Corporal December 4th 1914 and then Corporal 25th May 1915. He went to France 25th August 1915.

His records show him to be 5‘3” tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His faith was Church of England.

George seemed to have had dental problems as on April 16th 1915 he was fitted with a full set of vulcanite dentures. That same year he was wounded no details are given except that he was back in the field by October 1915.

A much more serious wound occurred on February 13th 1916 he took a gunshot wound to his upper left arm. The shot had fractured his radius. He spent some time being treated (around 19th February 1916) at No.1 Casualty Clearing station where his right arm was amputated.

By February 22nd 1916 George was homeward bound aboard HS Brighton from Etaples. After arriving home, he was sent to the Canadian General Hospital for yet more treatment.

From September 29th to November 21st 1916 George was convalescing at St Mary’s Convalescent Hospital, Roehampton. He eventually was given an artificial left arm.

He was discharged from war service on November 22nd 1916 as he was no longer fit for duty. He had served 2 years 2 months.

Unfortunately, this was not the end of the surgery. It seems the wound was not healing satisfactorily so on March 29th 1917 he had a re-amputation that is a “sequestrectomy of dead bones from lower end stump of humerus. Fairly good stump.”

George took a job as a postman, but his injuries unfortunately caught up with him. Sadness was felt in Barnard Castle on Christmas Day 1918 as George, affectionately known as “Pompy”, passed away after a short illness.

Hoping to avoid destitution for George’s widow and children, the local community rallied to create a fitting tribute to George: a football match. Local people were said to be “anxious to give a helping hand” to George’s widow and their “kindness of heart” was praised in the Teesdale Mercury. 01/01/1919 Local players worked speedily to organise a match, which took place on New Year’s Day 1919 in Barnard Castle. The Teesdale XI played against soldiers from the York and Lancaster Regiment, who were fitter and stronger and ran out 4-0 winners. The match was sanctioned by the Durham Football Association. George had once been a member of the Barnard Castle football team. As the final whistle blew, the community were able to gift Mrs Stout and her children the sum of £15 from a well-attended event organised at short notice.

George Stout is remembered at Barnard Castle onB135.02, B135.23 and B135.25