Category: Military
Rank: Private
Regiment or Ship: 3rd Bn. Royal West Kent Regiment
Service Number(s): G/9012
Occupation: Gardener
Date of Birth: 1877
Place of Birth: North Mimms, Herts.
Date of Death: 1962
Place of Death: Sidcup, Kent
Address: 29 Beaconsfield Road, Bexhill on Sea
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents: George Dowell (1843-) and Mary Dowell, nee Dolphin, (1840-).
Siblings: Lucy (1875-) and Sibella A. (1879-).
In 1891 George senior and family lived in Bromley, Kent.
On 15th August 1901 George Ernest married Lucy Elizabeth Russell (1878-1942) in Bromley, Kent. In 1911 they were living in Bexhill but moved back to Kent after the war had ended.
First World War Experience
George enlisted on 14th July 1915 when he was 38 years and 3 months old. He was 5’ 5½” tall with a chest measurement of 35” – expansion 3”. He was a gardener, married, and a member of the Church of England.
He served on the Home Front until 13th December 1915 when he was posted with the British Expeditionary Force to serve in France in the Theatre of War 1. He sustained a fractured skull on 10th March 1916 and was posted back to the Home Front on 20th of that month. He continued to serve on the Home Front until 14th November 1916 when he was discharged due to bad health caused by his injury.
George was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal, and the 14-15 Star.