Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Haywood, a shoe trade riveter, born in the 3rd quarter of 1871 in Barwell and his wife Louisa Haywood (nee Cufflin, married on the 21st September 1896 in St. Mary’s Church, Barwell, Leicestershire), a shoe trade machinist, born in the 4th quarter of 1872 in Glenfield, Leicestershire and baptised on the 16th March 1873 in St. Philip & St. James’ Church, Ratby, Leicestershire. George was born in the 4th quarter of 1896 in Barwell, his siblings were, Hilda, born in the 2nd quarter of 1898 and Ida Emma, born in the 1st quarter of 1901 and baptised on the 27th January 1901 in St. Mary’s Church, Barwell, both his siblings were born in Barwell, in March 1901 the family home was at 17, The Common, Barwell. In April 1911 George was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at 17, The Common, Barwell, together with his father, a shoe trade riveter, his mother a s shoe trade machinist and his siblings, Hilda, a shoe trade machinist, Ida, a schoolgirl, Tom, a schoolboy, born in the 1st quarter of 1903 and Jack, a schoolboy, born in the 2nd quarter of 1906, the latter two siblings were both born in Barwell.
George enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 4th January 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 16179. He gave his place of birth as Barwell, Leicestershire and age as 19 years 20 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He gave his present address as The Common, Barwell.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 4th January 1915 and recorded his apparent age as 19 years 20 days, that he was 5 feet 9¼ inches in height, weighed 144 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches, his physical development was described as good.
He gave his next of kin as his father, George Haywood, 42, The Common, Barwell, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. 4/1/15.
Mobilized. 8/1/15.
Joined. At Beverley. 8/1/15.
Posted. 3rd Bn. East Yorkshire Regt. Pte. 30/1/15.
Embarked. 7/5/15.
Posted. 2nd Bn. East Yorkshire Regt. (Draft). Pte. 8/5/15.
Offence. [I] Improper conduct on Parade (continued chewing). [II] Making an improper remark to a N.C.O. In the Field. Awarded 10 days Confined to Barracks. 4/8/15.
Offence. Disobedience of Orders (Sitting down whilst on sentry). In the Field. Awarded 7 Days Field Punishment No.2. 26/8/15.
Wounded in action. In the Field. 31/8/15.
Killed in action. France. Pte. 4/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 4/1/15 – 7/5/15. 122 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 8/5/15 – 4/10/15. 150 days.
Total Service. 272 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
George’s surviving service record amounts to a total of seventeen pages, of which only seven pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
George’s mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of four shillings and six pence for 253 weeks, to then increase to five shillings for life, to commence on the 14th July 1916.
The War Diary records: 4 Oct-15 – Near HULLUCH. At 8.00 pm on previous evening received orders that a combined attack of EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT and 1st KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY was to be made on HOHENZOLLERN. A bombardment was to start at 4.15 am lasting until 4.45 am when the attack was to be launched. At 4.20 am “B” Company under Captain W. H. WILSON moved out as ordered and took up a position about 50 yards in front of their trenches preparatory to moving forward after bombardment. Heavy rifle and Machine Gun fire was opened by the enemy and the Company was unable to -?- all the ground that was indicated. At 4.45 am “B” Company rose and charged forward but were immediately mown down by an intense rifle and Machine Gun fire, “D” Company who were to have followed “B” were unable to move owing to the congestion in the trenches consequent on “B” Company being unable to make ground. KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY on our left suffered severely in a similar manner. I attribute failure of this attack to following causes:-
[1] No Artillery bombardment.
[2] Complete lack of element of surprise.
The Germans were well prepared and had not been in the slightest shaken by the desultory shelling that had taken place throughout the day.
[3] The Germans had been digging themselves in during the day previous and had thoroughly improved their trenches.
[4] The relief the day before did not finish until 7.00 pm. Company officers had only a very indistinct idea of the trenches they were occupying and none at all of the position they were to attack. Two thirds of the leading Company became casualties including Captain W. H. WILSON (YORKSHIRE REGIMENT) killed. 2nd Lieutenant N. E. TRIER and 2nd Lieutenant A. WIGGINGRON wounded. 2nd Lieutenant N. E. TRIER died of wounds on 6th October. During the evening wiring in front of our trenches was continued. As the enemy’s rifle fire was fairly continuous a few casualties occurred.
Casualties for October 1915.
Officers. Killed 1, wounded 4, one since died of wounds, missing 0.
Other ranks. Killed 29, wounded 101, missing 4.
On Wednesday, October 13th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – News has been received of the death in action of GEO. HAYWOOD, aged about 19 years. The intimation was contained in a letter from a friend of Haywood’s, who said he saw him shot down last week end, Haywood was in the East Yorkshire Regiment, and joined in the early days of the war. If the news should be confirmed, he will make the fifth Barwell man to sacrifice his life for his country.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
George was one of five children born to George and Louisa Haywood