Private 15733 George Clifford Pooler

Killed in Action on Saturday, 16th September 1916, age 22.
Buried in Grave I. G. 17. at Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas De Calais, France.

18th Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers. 104th Brigade of 35th Division.

Son of Mark and Mildred Pooler, of 80 Dudley Road, Tividale, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Dudley, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/574757/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
9 Whitehouse Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Mark Pooler (39, Sheet Mill Roller, born Great Bridge), his wife Mildred (40, born Great Bridge), and their 3 children: James E. (10, born Great Bridge), George C. (7, born Great Bridge) and Mildred (4, born Great Bridge).

1911 Census
80 Dudley Road, Tividale, Tipton, Staffs.
Mark Pooler (49, Iron Worker - Roller, born Tipton), his wife Mildred (51, born West Bromwich), and 2 of their 3 children: George (17, Coal Yard Labourer, born Tipton) and Mildred (14, born Tipton).

Personal Data

The 18th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers was initially a Bantam Battalion for men less than the 5' 3'' required for other infantry Battalions. By the end of 1916 the quality of Bantam replacements became sub-standard; in common with the other Bantam Battalions, replacements from then on were average conscripts. As George Pooler died after 1916, it cannot be assumed that he was a Bantam by height.

George is commemorated on the Roll of Honour for Tividale Ward with address as 80 Dudley Road, Tividale. He is probably cousin of Leonard and James Pooler.

Action resulting in his death

In September 1916, the 35th Division moved from the Somme to the Arras sector. After the exertions of the Somme, this was a relatively quiet area, the main action being occasional trench raids. The 18th Lancashire Fusiliers were about 1 mile to the east of Arras, between the Cambrai Road and the River Scarpe at Blagny.

From a report in the Tipton Herald, it appears that George Pooler was unwisely standing on the parapet as dawn was breaking on 16th September. His silhouette provided a good target, and he was shot through the head. He is buried in the Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery at Arras.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald September 30 1916
KILLED AT THE BREAKING OF THE DAWN.
TIVIDALE SOLDIER SHOT BY A SNIPER.
To be added to the Tividale Roll of Honour is Private Pooler, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed on the 17th of September last.
Private Pooler was killed just as the dawn was breaking. He was on duty by his machine gun at the time and was standing on the parapet. A German sniper shot him through the head, and death was instantaneous.
Second-Lieutenant Hood Rayner, machine gun officer, writes to Private Pooler's father:- "I value my men very highly. They are the pick of the battalion, as their duties necessarily call for intelligence and courage. Your son combined these two qualities. He was No. 2 in his team - an important position - and well loved by all his fellows. It was a great shock to them."
Private Pooler was formerly employed by Messrs. Frost and Sons, of the Ebro Tube Works, Tividale, who speak very highly of him as a workman.