George Frank Street. Died 28 March 1918
George was born in 1888 to father, Harry and mother Kate in Wokingham, Berkshire. He was the first born and had four siblings, one brother and three sisters. His parents and younger siblings had moved to Deal in Kent in 1911. From the 1911 Census, George had in fact slipped off the records and it is possible he had joined the services by this time. However, we do know he had married Helen Anns in 1912.
George joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment, 2/4th Battalion and was soon on his way to France. By 1918 he had been killed on the 28th of March, during the German Spring Offensive. The Battalion were part of the resistance to the attacks of 21st March 1918 losing their CO, Lt Col Dimmer VC, MC on the 22nd. The next few days they fought a valiant retreat until they were withdrawn on the 30th March. It was during this time in which George lost his life. Local military historian, John Chapman provides a description of the 28th March:
http://www.purley.eu/H142P/P314.pdf
A small article in the Reading Chroincle on 20th April 1918 tells us a little more about him
“Corporal G Street is reported as having died of wounds received near St Quentin on 28th March. He volunteered on november 14th 1915 and was 30 years old. He was for some time on the staff at the local infirmary and left to take up a postion as Master’s assistant at Uxbridge. He leaves a widow.”
Name: STREET, GEORGE FRANK
Initials: G F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Royal Berkshire Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 28/03/1918
Service No: 201620
Additional information: Son of Kate Street, of “Estcourt,” 112, Elms Vale Rd., Dover, and the late Harry Street; husband of the late Helen Street.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. E. 1.
Cemetery: NAMPS-AU-VAL BRITISH CEMETERY
Historical Information: At the end of March 1918, when the German offensive in Picardy began, the 41st, 50th and 55th Casualty Clearing Stations came to Namps-au-Val, remaining until the middle of April. Almost all the burials in the cemetery were carried out by them, but nine graves in Plot II, Row D, were brought after the Armistice from CONTY FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY. The cemetery contains 408 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and one from the Second World War. There are also 16 French war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
3 Rodney Terrace. 1891 This will be close to the railway line, around Barkham Road. George’s father was a railway porter.
Barkham Road 1901. Again, this road is close to the railway station. Harry Street is a Railway Porter Foreman by 1901
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