| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
George Willison was born in Beverley in 1888, the son of Stephen and Betsey Willison (nee Robinson), he attended Minster Moorgate Infants and Minster Boys School before enlisting in the 1st East Yorkshire Regiment on 13 Feb 1911. He never married.
George embarked for France on 8 Sep 1914 as a Private in the 1st East Yorkshire Regiment before transferring to the 18th Machine Gun Company on 11 Jan 1916. He rose to the rank of Lance-Corporal and was involved in the Battle of the Somme in which he suffered wounds which resulted in his death on 12 Oct 1916. He is buried in the Thiepval Cemetery, France. His commanding officer wrote to his mother afterward saying “I lost one of the truest and bravest soldiers and comrades I ever knew…” Along with his brother, Arthur killed 1914; he is remembered on the war memorial on Hengate in Beverley.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |