Photo: Church leaflet
Whole leaflet
Newcastle Journal Tuesday 12/06/1917
Newcastle Journal Wednesday 18/04/1917
George Robert Heselton was the second son of Mr. P. E. and Mrs. J. C. Heselton, of York Road, West Hartlepool. He was a confidential clerk to the directors of Barclay's Bank, Darlington.
George enlisted in November 1914, and was at the front for 6 months with the Public School Corps. He was recommended for a commission, and was gazetted in August. Returning to the front in November 1916.
His parents were residing at 'Zillebeke,' Linden Grove, West Hartlepool at the end of the War.
A leaflet in Christ Church reads:
George Robert Heselton was born in Hartlepool on the 9th February 1894, and baptised here in Christ Church. George was a choir boy and organist at this church. A pupil at Lynnfield School, he eventually went on to work at Barclays Bank before enlisting when war was declared in 1914.
George enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers and went to France in 1915. He was commissioned to the Durham Light Infantry (D.L.I.) in 1916 and was posted to France again. However, he was killed in action in Belgium on June 2nd 1917.
Second Lieutenant G.R. Heselton was a Temporary Second Lieutenant promoted to a Temporary Lieutenant on the 5th March 1917.
Source : Newcastle Journal Wednesday 18/04/1917.
In a letter to his parents, Major A. L. Downey, D.S.O., "states that Lieut, Heselton was killed on the night of June 2 whilst gallantly leading his men against the enemy line". Major Downey adds:- He was an ideal soldier, with thoughts of his men's welfare before his own. His courage and absolute indifference to danger when duty was to be done have always been most noteworthy, and he was recognised, not only as one of the best officers of his battalion, but of the brigade in which he served. Had he been spared he would have most certainly have won the Military Cross, if not some higher decoration. As his commanding officer, I was in a position to note his excellent work under all circumstances, and I feel I ought to tell you that he was marked for very early promotion. He was exceedingly popular with his men, who would have followed him anywhere, and amongst the officers of the battalion he was a great favourite"
Source : Newcastle Journal Tuesday 12/06/1917.
Christ Church Parish magazine, in August 1917, said:
"Nothing has brought home to our congregation the sorrow of the war so much as the news that George Heselton was killed in action on June 2nd, for he was from his early childhood one of the leaders in our great family of boys."
The leaflet goes on to describe the window erected to his memory by his parents W111.42
George Robinson Heselton is also remembered in Hartlepool on H115.18, H115.30 and in West Hartlepool on W111.01 and W111.54
