Category: Military
Rank: Private
Regiment or Ship: Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment)
Service Number(s): 9373
Occupation: Post Office worker
Date of Birth: 1888
Place of Birth: Stepney, Middx
Date of Death: 25.09.1915
Place of Death: Belgium
Place of Burial / Memorials:
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, West Flanders. V1.H.9
Address: 96 Reginald Road, Bexhill on Sea
Photos and newspaper articles
Click on any image to see a larger version
Family Information
Parents: John Charles (1860-1922) and Elizabeth Housham (1858-1939). John and Elizabeth were married in Shoreditch in 1882. Elizabeth’s surname was given as Housham so maybe they were cousins
Siblings: Elizabeth, born 1883; John (1885-1890); Annie, born 1887; Harold (1890-1893); William (1892-1892); Mary (1893-1896); Minnie (1896-1965); Marie (1898-1969); Daisy (1902-1972).
First World War Experience
George enlisted on 13th October 1914 and we have two newspaper articles relating to his death. The first one, dated 13th November 1915, reads:
“Nothing further has been heard of Private George Housham, of the 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment, since September 29th. He was wounded previously on March 23rd, and after recovering in a French hospital, returned to the Front. He has been fighting for 12 months.”
The second article, dated 15th January 1916, reads:
“Bexhill Soldier Missing – Private George Housham, of the 2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment, son of Mrs Housham, of 96 Reginald-road, who has been missing since September 25th. He was formerly employed at the General Post Office, Bexhill, and was called up on the outbreak of war. He went to the front – October 1914 and was wounded at Neuve Chapelle in the following March. He was admitted to the hospital again in June suffering from shell shock. He had been fighting for nearly a year, but was not granted leave during that time.”
George was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal, and the 14 Star.