Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
George the son of John and Elizabeth (nee Jackson)was born on 21st July 1893 then later baptised on 1st October 1893 at the Parochial Chapelry.
The couple had 7 children together all of whom survived childhood. His siblings included James Henry, Charles (a grocer’s apprentice), Annie, John and Florence.
The family lived at 15 Galgate, Barnard Castle. They could afford to employ a domestic servant.
Father John worked on his own account as a shopkeeper grocer. Unfortunately he died at the fairly young age of 50 in 1904.
1911 census shows that mother Elizabeth had taken over the business helped by son, James and daughter, Annie. John was working as a gas office clerk.
Missing from this census is George. It is known that prior to the worked as a butcher’s assistant in Darlington. In fact, there was a lad (known as Albert) working for a butcher for John Pigg at Harrowgate Hill, Darlington who seems to be our George.
There are no service records to confirm George’s military service except that he enlisted at Bishop Auckland. He was reported missing, then missing and wounded in November/December 1916. It was assumed by the authorities that George had been killed in action on or about 15th October 1916. His body was never recovered.
Recipient of the Victory medal and British War Medal.
George Alfred Brown is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 285
