Private 9404 George Edward Skidmore

Killed in Action on Wednesday, 26th August 1914, age 26.
Buried in Grave II. F. 24. at Vailly British Cemetery, Aisne, France.

3rd Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 7th Brigade of 3rd Division.

Son of the late Mr John Skidmore and the late Mrs Sarah Skidmore, of 29 Bell Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Quarry Bank, Enlisted: Dudley, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 12th August 1914.
Medal entitlement: 1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and St. Matthew's memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/578589/

Genealogical Data

Birth of George Edward Skidmore registered September quarter 1888 in Stourbridge.

1901 Census
29 Bell Street, Tipton, Staffs.
John Skidmore (49, Puddler, born Quarry Bank), his wife Sarah (45, born Netherton), and their children: Joseph (18, Sawyer, born Quarry Bank), George (12, born Quarry Bank), Alice (11, born Quarry Bank), Sarah J. (9, born Quarry Bank), Maud (6, born Quarry Bank), and Emma (2, born Quarry Bank).

1911 Census
3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, Shaft Barracks, Western Heights, Dover.
George Edward Skidmore, Private, age 23, born Dudley, Worcestershire.

Personal Data

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site, George was the first Tipton man to be killed in the Great War, but their date is likely to be wrong.

George Skidmore enlisted in the Worcestershire Regiment in August 1905 stating his age as 18 years and 2 months. It is probable that he was actually 17 years and 2 months, as the only likely birth registration of George Skidmore is George Edward Skidmore in September quarter 1888. At enlistment George was 5ft 3½ inches tall with a 33½-inch chest, and weighed 104 pounds; after 6 months training he was still 5ft 3½in tall, but had a 35in chest and weighed 121 pounds. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes, brown hair and was Church of England.

George served in South Africa from November 1907 to October 1908, was appointed Lance Corporal (initially unpaid) in October 1909, losing his stripe in November 1910 due to "drunkenness" and left the Army in July 1911 transferring to the Reserves.

When Army Form 5080 (Statement of Living Relatives) was completed in July 1919, George was shown as unmarried, both his father and mother had died in 1909 and 1919 respectively, and he had 1 brother and 5 sisters living.

After George's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £5/15/6d (5 pounds, 15 shillings and 6 pence); this was paid to his mother, Mrs Mary J. Skidmore, in March 1916. His War Gratuity was £5/0/0d (5 pounds exactly), this was paid to his brother, James T., in September 1919. George was already a serving soldier at the outbreak of war.

George’s mother, Mrs Sarah J. Skidmore of 29 Bell Street, Tipton, was awarded a Dependant’s Pension of 10/0d (10 shillings) per week, effective from 12th February 1918.

Action resulting in his death

George was mobilised on 5th August 1914, posted to the 3rd Worcesters on the 7th, appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on the 11th, before embarking for France on the 12th August. Quite a week!

After an exhausting journey, the 3rd Worcesters faced the Germans at Ciply, just south of Mons, on the 23rd August. The action was light, but for the whole of the British forces near Mons it was immediately apparent that the odds were overwhelming and retreat was the only option. Two days marching brought the 3rd Worcesters to Caudry; here Smith-Dorrien decided that his II Corps were too exhausted to continue and were to stand and fight - the Battle of Le Cateau. The fighting on the 26th was quite severe, an estimated 100 casualties for the 3rd Worcesters on the day. The retreat continued that night, but the losses inflicted on the Germans meant that they did not harass the retreat for some time.

The Commonwealth War Graves web site shows George Skidmore killed on the 26th August; this is confusing as he is buried at Vailly, 60 miles south of Caudry. It is likely that there is some error here, as the 3rd Worcesters arrived at Vailly on the 13th September, and stayed in the area until 21st September, losing heavily on the 19th and 20th September. Errors in the records at this time would not be surprising as the situation was so confused.

George was listed as missing on the 28th August 1914; the Kew Star Roll Record (L/2/5 Page 90) give his date of death as 1st August 1915, and the Worcester Herald reports him dead on the 18th December 1915. So he has 3 different dates of death, most likely none of which is the correct one!

It is a strong possibility that he was killed in the September 1914 attacks towards Rouge Maison Farm. He was either killed there and his body found after the war, or he may have been wounded and sent back to Vieil Arcy where there was a hospital where he died and was buried in the Communal Cemetery. After the war all the bodies were reburied in Vailly (except Lt. Col. C. Dalton who is buried in Vieil-Arcy).

From CWGC Sept 2011: "Our archives show that Private Skidmore was previously buried at the following map reference: 'Soissons 33. 1/50,000, 299. 5. x. 195. 6.'. This reference relates to a French Series map which, sadly, we do not have a copy of but from looking at map references given for other named cemeteries from where graves were concentrated into Vailly British Cemetery, the map reference relates to a location in the vicinity of Chavonne, a little to the east of Vailly-sur-Aisne."

In August 2016 Ian Purvis was in contact to confirm that the map reference given by the CWGC was in fact near Rouge Maison Farm. This makes is very likely that George Skidmore was killed on the 19th or 20th September. On these days the 3rd Worcesters line was attacked on both left and right flanks by the Germans after an artillery bombardment. Despite the ferocity and close-quarters nature of the action, the 3rd Worcesters held off the German attacks.

There is a significant difference in the dates of casualties between the War Diary and the CWGC. The War Diary shows just 1 man killed on the 19th September, 22 killed and 30 missing on the 20th September, and none on the 21st. The CWGC has 19 killed on the 19th, 7 on the 20th and 20 on the 21st September. Given the significant pressure on the 3rd Worcesters it is not surprising that the reporting of casualties was not the prime concern. George could have been killed on the 19th or 20th September.

Two other Tipton men lost their lives in this action; Albert Hay on the 19th, and Jack Hough on the 20th September.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.