William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
George was born at Sunderland in 1898 the son of George Albert and Hannah Mary (nee Hodgson) also known as Ganny. The couple married in 1898 and went on to have 8/10 children although sadly several died.
The 1901 census records the young family living at 25 Page Street Sunderland. His only brother at that time was named Spoors. His father worked as a boiler smith.
By 1911 the family lived at 14 Vane Terrace Howdon. His father was a coal teemer. The family had increased in size over the years. Apart from his brother, Spoors, additional members included Margaret Elizabeth (known as Maggie), Hannah and Joseph had arrived. Unfortunately another 3 children died at a young age ie Violet aged 2, James aged 1 and Lilian an infant. A late child, Doris, was born in 1915 but she died in1917 and also John James who also died in 1917 aged 5 years.
George attested for service on December 11th 1915 at Barnard Castle. Although he was only 17 years old when he enlisted he gave his age of 19 years 2 months on his attestation paper. Strangely it appears only a few days later (22nd December 1915) he went absent for a lengthy period. For that offence he forfeited 86 days pay - from December 22nd 1915 until march 17th 1916. He was posted to the B.E.F. on May 5th 1916. His documents show him to be 5’5” tall with his weight as 122lbs. His trade was a driver. He embarked at Southampton on May 4th 1916 then disembarked at Havre the following day. On September 11th 1916 he was wounded in the field having he suffered a shrapnel wound to the left side of his left chest. He was sent back to England aboard H.S, Panama on October 2nd 1916. He spent 41 days in a hospital at 2nd General Hospital in Manchester but never recovered from his wounds dying on November 12th 1916.
His total service amounted to 337 days.
His headstone showed the Inscription : Died of wounds received in action on the Somme.
His brother, Spoors Hodgson Hope, also fought in WW1 but survived until his death in 1940. After George's death his mother was awarded a pension 5/- per week as from March 12th 1918. Other monies were left to his sister Maggie Waters.
George Albert Hope is remembered at Sunderland in S140.048 part 2 page 38
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 315
