In Englebelmer Communal Cemetery, Somme, France, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 18/1394 Private George Stephenson Rivers serving with the 14th (Service), Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 13/08/1916.
In Spennymoor (Tudhoe) Cemetery is a family headstone which includes:-
George Stephenson Rivers
their beloved son
killed in action in France
13th August 1916 aged 26 years
George Stephenson Rivers was born in Tudhoe, Durham in 1890. The only son to parents John and Ann, of South View, Thornley, Durham, he had two younger sisters Ivy and Elsie. The family are found living in The Villas, Thornley Colliery in Durham in the 1911 Census return and George’s employment is given as Student (Schoolmaster). His father John was under-manager of Thornley Colliery.
George had received his training at the Sunderland Day Training College and he joined the teaching staff at Birtley Lane Council School. In February 1915 he enlisted at Newcastle into the Durham Light Infantry, with service number 18/1394.
George was well known in football circles, he played for Newcastle United Reserves as outside left and newspaper reports of 1914 describe him as ‘destined to be early elevated to First League rank’ He had previously played for Spennymoor and South Shields and several other teams and was also a keen sportsman in cricket, tennis and swimming.
Private George Stephenson Rivers was killed on the 13th August 1916, aged 26 years. He was serving with the 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and the War Diary for this date describes how 380 men had been provided for work with the Royal Engineers on trenches at Hamel and Mesnil during the night, resulting in casualties of 2 killed and 4 wounded.
George died alongside Edmund (Eddie) Burton, a professional footballer from Dunston who played for Bristol City. They are both buried at Englebelmer Communal Cemetery, Somme, France.
The Captain of his company wrote to George’s parents, telling them how their son had been killed and expressing his deepest sympathy.
They had the inscription ‘GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS’ added to his headstone.
The Newcastle Journal 07/09/1916 reports:-
LOCAL TEACHER KILLED.
John Rivers, under-manager of Thornley Colliery, has received news that his only son, Private George S. Rivers, of the Durhams, has been killed in action. Private Rivers was 26 years age and before enlisting was on the staff of Birtley Council Schools. He received his training at the Sunderland Day Training College, after having completed a course at the Hartlepool Technical Schools. He was keen on all branches of sport, including cricket, football, tennis and swimming. He was of a kind-hearted disposition, which won for him numerous friends. Mr and Mrs Rivers and family have received many manifestations sympathy with them in their great loss. In a letter received from Wesleyan chaplain with the forces, it is stated that the late Private Rivers was a general favourite, and was esteemed for his goodness of heart.
Sources: British Newspaper Archive: Western Front Association: Find a Grave
Research: Jean Atkinson.
George Stephenson Rivers is remembered at Birtley on B127.01, at Chester le Street in C105.35, at Durham on D47.52 and D47.141, at Newcastle on NUT272, at Sunderland on S140.099 and S140.117, at Thornley on T54.02, T54.05 and in T54.06, on our Lists of Teachers who fell in 1914-18 and Teachers who served in 1914-18 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 213.
