Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree--George Charles Peek

 

A Private with 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, George died on 18th of June 18, 1915 at the age of 31. 

George was born at Lowestoft on August 2, 1883, the son of James Charles Peek 1851-1927 and Mary Ann Balls 1852-1929. In 1891 his family lived at Dove Street, Lowestoft. George attended Clapham Road School and, from 8 September 1891 was a pupil at Saint Margaret's School. In 1901 they lived at Wood's Buildings, Dove Street, and George was a labourer at the fish market. Later his parents lived at 9 Eastern Square, Whapload Road, Lowestoft.

George married Jeannie “Jane” Ann Colquhoun in January 1911 and the marriage was registered in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England. In 1911 they lived at 40 Northumberland Street, North Shields, where George was a fishworker. Later Jane lived at 4 Prospect Terrace, North Shields.

 

 

George and Jane had four children.  They were:

1.       Florence Lilian Colquhoun Peek 1905-1990

2.       Mary Peek 1911-

3.       George Charles Peek 1913-

4.       Evelyn Maud Peek 1914-

George volunteered and enlisted in the Army at North Shields. He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers, service number 16923. He was posted to the 1st Battalion and arrived in France on February 17, 1915. He served with Y Company. 

On June 15, 1915 the Battalion paraded and marched to Railway Wood, near Ypres, in preparation for an attack the following day. On June 16th, the British artillery bombardment began at 2.50 a.m. and continued until 4.15 a.m. In response the Germans fired shrapnel, high explosive and gas shells toward Railway Wood. At 4.15 a.m. the attack began and the German front line trench was soon taken. The Battalion suffered rather heavily, but many prisoners were taken. The Battalion, after a short rest, made for the second line of German trenches. W and Y Company went to the left and had to bomb their way along the trench and the fighting was severe. Eventually the Battalion was outflanked, on both sides, and retired to the German front line trench that they had taken earlier in the day.  

On that day the Battalion had over 650 casualties. In Y Company ten men were killed, 52 wounded, including George, and 57 missing. 

George was taken to 9 Field Ambulance, where he subsequently died of his wounds.   The unit chaplain wrote the letter home to George's father telling him of the death of his son.

George was buried at Asylum British Cemetery, near Ypres. By 1924 he had been reburied at Bedford House Cemetery.  




Much of this story was extracted from Our Fallen--People of Lowestoft 1914-1945 website.

Genealogy:  George Charles Peek 1883-1915 was the son of James Charles Peek 1851-1927 and his mother was Mary Ann Leggett 1821-1898 and her father was James Leggett 1795-1875 and his father was William Leggett 1771-1842 and his father was William Leggett 1742-1820 and his father was Jonathan Leggett 1710-1756 and his father was Nicholas Legget 1678-1710 and his mother was Anne Lewes 1650-1730 and her brother was Thomas Lewis 1645-1688 and his daughter was Elisabeth Luis 1675-1753 and her daughter was Mary Frankling 1718-1768 and her son was John Copeman 1753-1830 and his son was William Copeman 1792-1876 and his daughter was Anne Copeman 1817-1891 and her son was George Albert Mann 1853-1942. (George Albert Mann was the father of Gilbert Maurice Mann who married Gladys May Adams the daughter of George “Pikey William Welch-Adam

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