Arras Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Plews was born 3rd quarter of1896 at Langley Park, County Durham, one of 6 children of whom only 5 survived, 3 sons and 2 daughters born to Allan Alberhire Plews native of Coxhoe born 1866 and his wife Annie Wright born 1867 at Hetton le Hole in County Durham. His parents were married in December 1891, in 1901 the family was living at 4, East Cross Street, Esh near Langley Park, their 4 children were all infants, Allan Plews was employed as a miner hewer. By 1911 George and his elder brother Allan Jnr had joined their father at the colliery both working underground as rolley drivers.
Although he was living at Pelaw when WW1 broke out he enlisted September 1914 at Durham, assigned as Private 7542 9th Yorkshire Regiment which departed for France, as part of the 69th Brigade, 23rd Division, landing at Boulogne, August 1915. Whilst at the front he was transferred to the 11th Battalion, then to the 6th and finally the 4th Battalion a Territorial Force with a change of number to 202958 Yorkshire Regiment. March 20th 1917 the first phase of the Arras offensive began with the bombardment of Vimy Ridge followed by the rest of the sector April 4th. The major British assault was directly east of Arras during the First Battle of the Scarpe April 9th-14th pushing on towards Feuchy and the German trenches, most of the objectives were achieved by the 10th. The second Battle of the Scarpe lasted only two days, 23rd-24th April. The 23rd in poor visibility and freezing weather the British troops attacked at 04.45 am, during the day's warfare in the trenches Private 202958 George Plews Yorkshire Regiment went missing presumed dead, the date of April 23rd 1917 was adopted by the CWGC as the date of his demise, he was 20 years old and single.
Private George Plews is commemorated as one of the 37,785 names of servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand on the Arras Memorial to the Missing within Faubourg d’Amiens British Cemetery, Arras France, who died in the sector between spring 1916 and 7th August 1918 and have no known grave.
His parents received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to them at 64 Reservoir Street, Wardley, Pelaw, County Durham. Allan Alberhire Plews Snr. died aged 85 in 1951, district of County Durham.
George’s elder brother Allan Alberhire Plews Jnr., aged 20 years, a miner living at 7 George Street, Langley Park, County Durham also served during WW1 enlisting at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, April 23rd 1915, assigned to the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was later transferred to the 2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment which he joined at the front in 1916 as part of the 4th Division. The division saw action in 1916 in the Battles of the Somme, 1917 in the Battles of Arras and the Third Battle of Ypres. In 1918 they took part in the First Battle of Arras, the Battles of the Lys, the Advance in Flanders, the Second Battles of Arras, the Battle of the Canal du Nord on the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy. He sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm October 25th 1918, was evacuated for medical care back to England and after examination by the medical board was discharged, aged 24, June 28th 1919 under King’s Regulation 392(xvi), “no longer physically fit for service”, having lost partially the use of his arm. Silver Badge number 246247, pension of 11 shillings a week to be reviewed after 54 weeks, awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 64, Reservoir Street, Wardley, Pelaw, County Durham. Allan Alberhire Plews Jnr. died aged 68 in the county of Northumberland in 1963.
Alan is remembered at Wardley on W97.02
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Plews is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 at Wardley on W97.01 at Langley Park on L64.01 and L64.02
