In Fontaine-Au-Bois Communal Cemetery, Nord, France, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 100318 Private George Johnson Hull serving with the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 29/10/1918.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Johnson Hull, one of 10 children, he was the 4th born of 5 sons and had 3 older and 2 younger sisters. His father Henry Foster Hull was born at North Bedburn in 1850 and married in 1885, district of Bishop Auckland, a local girl Sarah Johnson born 1864. In 1891 they were living on their farm at Woodham Burn assisted by farm servant Frank Walker (20) and domestic servant Mary Ann Rop (15), they had 3 children Tom born 1886, Mary 1887 and Robert 1889, Henry was born later that year.
Ten years later Tom (15) assisted his parents who now had a further 4 children Elizabeth A. 1895, Sarah 1897, George Johnson 1899 and Edith 1901. William was born 1903, their youngest child Hannah in 1908.
By 1911 they had moved to Cornsay where they farmed South Shield Farm for their own account, their older children were married the younger ones were all scholars with the exception of Sarah (14) who assisted her mother running the household.
When war was declared with Germany in 1914 George was 15/16 years of age, too young to enlist, however, he was deemed by the Army to have enlisted March 2nd 1916 at Newcastle upon Tyne. He continued his job as a ploughman until he was called up April 29th 1918 and presented himself at the recruitment office at Newcastle upon Tyne. He was assigned as Private 100318 to the Durham Light Infantry and posted to Sutton on Hull for training.
Having turned 19 he was now eligible for service overseas and departed with the British Expeditionary Force to France, landing at Boulogne, September 13th 1918. After a period of trench familiarisation he was posted to the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, October 3rd, joining his regiment in the field, October 7th. 1918. The battalion had returned to France from Italy and was now part of the 74th Brigade, 25th Division. They saw action during the Final Advance in Picardy during the Battle of the Selle, October 17-25th 1918.
Private 100318 George Johnson Hull was killed in action October 29th 1918 during day to day trench warfare. He is at rest within Fontaine-Au-Bois Communal Cemetery, Nord, France, grave D.1. The plot was made up by the XIII Corps Burial Officer in November 1918 and contains 90 casualties from the period October and November 1918. He was 19 years of age and single.
His father Henry received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at South Shield Farm, Cornsay, County Durham.
Henry Foster Hull died in 1927 aged 77 years, Sarah Hull nee Johnson died aged 77 years in 1941, both registered in County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Johnson Hull is remembered at Satley on S116.01 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 299.
