Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George William Pilkington was the eldest of his 9 siblings, 4 of whom Ralph (i), Jonathan, Elizabeth and Ralph (ii) were deceased by 1911. His father registered under the surname Pilkinton, was born at Crook, in the district of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in 1862 and declared in 1911 census to have married in 1881 to Jane Annie born circa 1864, Sheffield, Yorkshire. George William was born in 1886 at Lintz, Burnopfield, County Durham, John 1887 and James 1891 at Daisy Hill before the family moved to Northumberland, settling at Amble, birthplace in 1895 of Sarah Ann and had returned to County Durham before 1901. Ralph was employed as a coal miner at Sleetburn, George William as a driver below ground, where they were living at 24, Eshwood Street. In 1911 they occupied 3 rooms at 55, Thomas Street, Craghead, County Durham, his father was a hewer at the colliery, John (23) a shifter, James (20) a pony driver, while Sarah Ann (16) and baby Ralph (2) remained at home with their mother. In the census George William is listed as married, in fact he had married in the district of Chester-le-Street, in 1905, to Elizabeth Young, why they were living apart and what became of her is at yet unknown.
Between 1911 and the commencement of WW1, either the entire family or George William alone, had returned to Northumberland. He was one of the first to enlist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, upon the formation of new battalions, part of Kitchener’s New Armies, assigned as Private 615 to the 20th Battalion (1st Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers, raised October 14th 1914. The recruits trained at Newcastle before moving to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, January 29th 1915, It was during his period of training that he met local girl Sarah Jane Ramsey born April 1st 1892. The 20th Battalion together with the 21st/22nd/23rd Battalions, in March 1915 formed the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, in June 1915, the division moved to Ripon in Yorkshire, where it was taken over by the War Office, August 15th 1915, then moved to Salisbury Plain for final training. Knowing that his departure for the front was imminent, Private Pilkington and Sarah Jane were married in the district of Alnwick, during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1915, he departed with his regiment to France January 9th 1916.
The 34th Division concentrated at La Crosse, east of St Omer. After a period of trench familiarisation they made their way to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming battles. Either prior to his departure or once arrived in France, Private Pilkington was posted from the 20th to the 23rd Battalion. The opening battle of the Somme due to commence June 29th 1916 was delayed until July 1st by bad weather. The 23rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was in action on the first day during the Battle of Albert. At 7.28am two huge mines were detonated under the German lines, one to the south and one to the north of the village of La Boisselle which signalled the beginning of the attack. The opening battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest in the history of the British Army, more than 60,000 casualties that day. Amongst the reported as missing and/or wounded was Private 615 George William Pilkington Northumberland Fusiliers. After extensive investigations as to his whereabouts he was officially struck off and Sarah Jane received the news, August 12th 1916 that he had been killed in action, July 1st 1916.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,337 names of British and South African forces inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating those who died on the Somme before March 1918 and who have no known grave. Private Pilkington was 30 years of age.
As per his will, as sole legitimate, Sarah Ann received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at Home Lane, Alnwick, Northumberland and was awarded a pension of 10 shillings, March 7th 1917 to be received weekly as of March 12th 1917 for herself, as their marriage was childless.
Although John and Joseph Pilkington would also have been eligible to serve no records have been found.
Sarah Jane remarried in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1923, to John T. Waldie born at Morpeth, Northumberland, October 22nd 1885. In 1939 they were living at 112, Kingsley Terrace, also in the household was a Thomas B. Miller, a driller machinist, supplying their only other form of income as John was a pensioner and listed as disabled. Sarah Jane Waldie-Pilkington nee Ramsey died in 1942 aged 50 years, listed in error as 48 years, John T. Waldie in 1946 aged 60 years, both registered in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. This second marriage was also childless.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George William Pilkington is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
