Derek Walmsley has submitted the following:
My Great Grandfather George Henry Wilkinson CALVERT DCM - Royal Army Medical Corps 19th Field Ambulance, Service No.27773. Henry (as he was known) was born in 1877 in Bedlington, Northumberland and was killed in action on 3rd November 1916 Buried at Guillemont Road cemetery. He was Awarded the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal) and the citation reads as follows:
Henry entered the war in France on 3rd October 1915. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in September 1916 "for conspicuous gallantry while acting as one of the advanced stretcher bearers. He repeatedly made journeys across the open under intense shell fire to bring in wounded men, and exhibited the greatest coolness and courage in the performance of his hazardous duties".
Prior to joining up to fight in WW1 aged 38 Henry was a miner, working at Choppington Colliery.
CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS
1877 23 February born at Shankhouse Northumberland
Married Frances HARE age 21
On 10th September 1899 his first daughter Mary Elizabeth CALVERT was born (my grandmother). After Henry was killed, Mary joined the WAAC's in WW1 aged 17 and also served her country in WW2 as a Sergeant in the RAF as part of the team managing the logistics for the D-Day invasion. Her son Doug, my father, also served in the RAF in WW2 from 1940 to 1946.
In 1906 Henry's second daughter Constance May CALVERT was born.
Henry was killed in 1916 and his wife Frances died in 1918 aged 37 and as a consequence both daughters were orphaned aged 18 and 12 respectively.
There were a number of tragic deaths as a consequence of the family involvement in WW1.
One of Henry's brothers Robert Calvert of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards was killed in October 1914 aged 26.Two of Henry's nephews were killed, James Summers Calvert of the 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in May 1915 aged 22 and Thomas Summers Calvert of the Royal Navy killed in September 1915 3 days short of his 18th birthday.Two of Henry's brother in laws were also killed, John HARE of the 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in September 1915 aged 39 and Aaron HARE of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in March 1918 aged 32 years.Six sons from one extended family that I am aware of.
Morpeth Herald 24/11/1916 carries a brief obituary:
Mr John Calvert, of 11 Chapel Place, Seaton Burn, has received news that his brother, Private Harry Calvert, R.A.M.C., of Choppington, was killed on Nov. 3rd. Only a few weeks ago Private Calvert was awarded the D.C.M. for bravery in the field.
Henry Calvert is remembered in Choppington on C36.01, C36.04 and C36.05 and in Gateshead on G39.030
