Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Mann born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, in 1897 was the only child of John Mann of Tynemouth and his wife, whom he married in the district of Tynemouth in 1888, Florence Caroline Read. Florence was born at Mile End Old Town, Stepney, Middlesex, London, in 1869 and had migrated with her family to the north east between 1871 and 1881. Details of the Mann family are very sparse. In 1911 he and his mother, who is listed in the census as married, were living without his father in 5 rooms at Westerhope, Northumberland, George (13) was a student.
When Britain declared a state of war with Germany all regiments raised new battalions and the Territorial Forces were mobilised, split into the 1st Line men destined for service overseas and the 2nd Line men unable or unwilling to serve overseas. George Mann would have been accepted to serve once he turned 18 during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1915 joining the 2/5th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment at its training ground at Tunbridge Wells, where the men had just received their Lee-Enfield rifles although they were in poor condition. Lewis guns arrived in February 1916 just as the battalions were reaching full strength. As part of the 57th Division during mid 1916 they were moved between Canterbury, Maidstone and Ashford then transferred to the Emergency Reserve at Aldershot Command by July.
Rifleman 32469 George Mann departed to France with the 57th Division disembarking at Le Havre between February 7th-22nd 1917, joining the II Anzac Corps they took over the Bois Grenier sector. April and May passed with the 2/5th Battalion raiding the German trenches and the 57th Division carried out diversionary actions until October 28th when it participated during the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele near the end of the 3rd Battle of Ypres on the Belgian salient in atrocious weather and thick mud. The battle concluded November 10th 1917 however the troops remained in the sector.
Rifleman 32469 George Mann 2/5th South Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action, December 30th 1917, on the Ypres salient. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 34,887 names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing which forms the backdrop to Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, near Ypres, Belgium, commemorating British and New Zealand forces who died on the salient after August 16th 1917, who have no known grave or have never been found.
John Mann received all monies due to his son from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, his mother, a pension, awarded July 11th 1918, of 13 shillings a week as of July 30th 1918, sent to her at 50, Alexander Street, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Florence Caroline Mann nee Read died in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland in 1946 aged 77 years, details as regards John Mann, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Mann is remembered at Whorlton on W52.01
