Photo: William Kirby
04/06/2005
William Kirby reports:
I had an uncle, George Thomas Kirby, who died in a German prisoner of war camp on November 11th 1918, but unfortunately, no photograph of him.
William has submitted the following:-
George Thomas Kirby was born September 11th 1895, at 6 William Street, Seaham Harbour and baptised September 25th at Seaham Parish Church. His parents were Robert and Elizabeth nee Richardson.
In both the 1901 and 1911 census the family were living at 6 William Street.
Robert was a Dock Labourer in 1911 and George aged 15 was down the local coal mine. Robert and Elizabeth had been married 29 years and had twelve children although by this time two had died.The children included Sarah, Mary, Dorothy Annie Ethel, Robert, Emily, Ivy and Isabella.
George enlisted at Seaham Harbour and joined the Yorkshire Hussars. He embarked for France July 13th 1915.
He served with the 4th, 7th and 10th Battalions.
George was reported missing in 1918 and became a prisoner of war. He died on November 11th 1918 at a German Military Hospital at Wattenscheid with pneumonia.
Recipient of the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His sister Mary Ann Stanbridge received any monies owed to him.
George Kirby is remembered at Dawdon on D41.06 and at Seaham on S117.04
