Arnold Brunton has provided the following:
Private 16923 George Charles Peek, 1/5th Northumberland Fusiliers
George was born on 2nd August 1883 at Erskine Place, Lowestoft, Suffolk. His parents were; James Charles Peek, a Mariner (fisherman) and his wife Mary Ann nee Balls.
1901 census lists George as a fish market labourer age 19 living with his parents at Wards Building, Dove Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk.
1911 census shows he is living at No. 40 “Northumberland Street Mission” North Shields with his wife Jane Ann nee Colquhoun and Florence their daughter. Family members recall his wife may have been the Mission’s caretaker.
At North Shields “Fish Quay” he worked as a labourer.Very severely wounded at the Battle of “Bellewaarde“, on 16th June 1915, he was taken to Field Ambulance Station No. 9 where he died of his wounds on 18th June 1915.
Army Chaplain Captain M. Buchanna who was with him to the end wrote to his family. The letter dated 18th June 1915 describes his prayers, last moments and a promise to his parents to bury him in the solders grave at “Huglan”, Ypres. His final resting place is at Bedford House Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium.
George Charles Peek and his wife’s brother George Henry Colquhoun with their comrades are named on the Northumberland Street Mission’s memorial plaque, inscribed as follows. ” Roll of Honour In Everlasting Remembrance” of our comrades of the Men’s Homely Hour. Who laid down their lives whilst serving their country in the Great War 1914-1918
R.I.P.
George Charles Peek is remembered at North Shields on N34.35 and on page 65 of A11.43
