GEORGE VICTOR FRASER BATTLE
Born: 21st May 1897, St. Clement’s, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 4th July 1897, at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich – family home at 51, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.
Died: 28th May 1918; age 21; died of shell wounds at No. 61 Casualty Clearing Station. Served 2 years & 171 days.
Residence: 13, Studley Grange Road, Hanwell, Middlesex.
Occupation: Civil Service.
Embarked – Southampton – 2nd November 1916 – disembarked – Havre – 3rd November 1916.
Enlistment Details: Location: London; date: 9th December 1915; age: 18 years & 7 months; religion CofE. Next of Kin: father – William Battle, of Holmbush Lodge, 1, Derby Road, Ipswich. Height: 5ft 11 1/2ins.
Achieved 1st Class in Signalling & Telephoning – 14th August 1916 – Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.
Rank: Gunner; Service Number: 76554
Regiment: Royal Garrison Artillery, 200th Siege Battery.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Grave Reference:
III.A.8.
Somme,
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of William & Jessie Battle, of Holmbush Lodge, 1, Derby Road, St. Clement’s, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 15, Newton Road, Ipswich.
George was 3 years old and living with his parents.
William Battle, 45, a Carpenter – employer, born Easton, Suffolk.
Jessie Battle, 36, born Inverness, Scotland.
1911 1, Derby Road, Ipswich.
George was 13 years old and living with his father, stepmother and father’s cousin.
William, 56, a Jobbing Carpenter.
Clara Emma Battle (nee Lyon), 52, born Butley, Suffolk.
William Henry Dalby, 50, born St. Margaret’s, Ipswich.
George’s brother, William Alexander Brandon Battle, was born on the 17th May 1902, at 15, Newton Road, Ipswich and was baptised on the 29th June 1902, at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich. William died on the 6th December 1903, at the family home, 15 Newton Road, Ipswich, aged 1 year and 6 months and was buried at Section C, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
George’s mother, Jessie Battle, died on the 22nd March 1905, at her home, Violet Villas, 15, Newton Road, Ipswich and was buried on the 27th March at Section C, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
On the 12th January 1907, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Ipswich, George’s 52 year old widowed father, William Battle, a carpenter, married 49 year old Clara Emma Lyon, of 1, Derby Road, Ipswich.
William Battle, of Holmbush Lodge, 1, Derby Road, Ipswich, received his late son’s personal effects:
Disc, purse, lighter, matchbox holder, cigarette holder, spectacles (broken) in spectacle case, 2 pipes (1 broken), metal watch (no glass, in case), knife. Kitbag handle, lock & 2 keys, 2 safety razors (1in case) & blades, soap & flannel in tin box, 2 pairs scissors (1 pair broken), tube of toothpaste, letters, photos, cards, 2 mirrors 91 in case), 3 notebooks, 2 combs, shaving strap & brush, 2 French booklets, fountain pen & clip, registered envelope, wallet, 2 pencils, certificate, newspaper & cards of views.
Soldiers’ Effects to William Battle – father.
On the 24th February 2012, George’s Death Plaque was sold on WorthPoint – eBay. There was also a Cast Bronze Plaque of the Royal Artillery, his two medals with his name, number and regiment on the side, a letter from King George, and the wax and inner paper envelopes.
George is also remembered on the London WW1 memorial and the war memorial at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Ipswich.
The Royal Garrison Artillery RGA developed from fortress-based artillery, fixed positions, mainly coastal fortresses and batteries. In 1914, the army had only a small number of heavy artillery pieces. The RGA grew as the warfare became static. They were armed with heavy, large-calibre guns and howitzers positioned behind the front line and had immense destructive power.
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