Heslop's Local Advertiser 20/07/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Edward Champney was born in 1884 at Windy Nook, Gateshead, County Durham, the third born son and one of 8 surviving children, 6 sons, 2 daughters and 4 deceased gender unknown. His father John Thomas Champney born 1846 at Amble, district of Alnwick, Northumberland married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1871 to Rosanna Bennett (known as Annie) native of Berwick Northumberland born 1855. By 1881 they and their three eldest children were living at The New Row, Heworth, Gateshead where John Thomas was employed as a miner, by the time George was 6 years old they had moved to Paradise Place, Windy Nook, Gateshead. George was fortunate that at the age of 16 he was not employed like many boys of his age as a miner, the only bread-winner still in 1901 was his father employed as a hewer at the colliery, they had now moved to Jackson Square.
George Champney married at Felling Parish Church, October 13th 1908, Mary Jane Parkin (known as Minnie) and with whom by 1913 he had 3 children, Sarah Cairnes Champney born July 31st 1909, George June 12th 1911 and Mary Jane September 20th 1913.
On the outbreak of war as a married man George was not under any obligation to enlist however by spring 1915 it had become clear that volunteers were not going to provide the number of troops required at the expansion of the war. The government passed the National Registration Act, July 15th 1915 to discover how many men between the ages of 15 to 65 were engaged in a trade. By October 11th 1915 Lord Derby had brought in a scheme based on the results for raising numbers, it was half way to conscription. September 2nd 1915 George left his employment as a labourer to enlist, for the duration of the war, at Felling and was assigned as Private 27562 to the Durham Light Infantry. He joined the regiment at their barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was posted to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion.The battalion left Newcastle for South Shields and Jarrow as part of the Tyne Garrison, it was also responsible for training recruits for active service and retraining those men recovering from ill health or wounds received on the Western Front.
Private Champney departed with his regiment as part of the British Expeditionary Force January 25th 1916 bound for France where he was transferred upon his arrival as the Depot, January 26th 1916, to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 18th Brigade, 6th Division, joining them in the field February 10th 1916 just as they had returned to the Somme after a winter in the trenches on the Ypres salient in Belgium.
Late July 1916 they joined the fighting on the Somme, however, they did not participate at any major battles until the capture of Martinpuich during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, September 15th-22nd. Private Chimney did not join in the fighting until September 17th as he had been taken to the Field Ambulance on the 12th having injured his back. During September 25th-28th the battalion fought at the Battle of Morval where they captured Combies and Lesboeufs, followed by the Battle of Transloy October 1st-8th 1916.
November 20th 1916 Private Champney was promoted to the rank of unpaid Lance Corporal but it was not until December 12th 1916 that he was appointed paid Lance Corporal. Remaining on the Somme during day to day trench warfare he received a gunshot wound to the face, March 24th 1917. Taken to the Casualty Clearing Station he was transferred two days later and admitted to the 4th General Hospital at Camiens. By April 10th 1917 he was sufficiently recovered to be sent to the 6th Convalescence Depot at Etaples, after 15 days he transferred to the Base Depot and rejoined the 2nd Battalion, which was still engaged on the Somme, May 12th 1917.
Lance Corporal George Edward Champney was killed in action June 7th 1917 and interred at Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe Pas de Calais France, grave II. Q. 2. The cemetery was used by various front line Divisions fighting on the Loos salient to bury their dead as of August 1915 to October 1918.
His widow Minnie received all monies due to him and a pension for herself and their now 4 children as just before her husband’s departure for the Western Front she had given birth to a son January 9th 1916 who was baptised Thomas Champney. She also received at her home address of 13, Carlisle Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 20/07/1917.
George Edward Champney is remembered at Windy Nook on W95.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 144
