Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Joyce, an agricultural labourer, born 1853 in Ketton, Rutland and his wife Mary Ann Joyce (nee Coates, formerly Hardwick, married on the 4th June 1885 in St. Mary’s Church, Ketton), born 1854 in Ketton. George William was born on the 1st June 1890 in Ketton and was baptised on the 29th June 1890 in St. Mary’s Church Ketton, he had one sibling, Harry, born in the 4th quarter of 1887 in Ketton and baptised on the 23rd October 1887 in St. Mary’s Church, Ketton, in April 1891 the family home was at Chapel Lane, Ketton. In March 1901 George was residing in the family home at Edith Weston, Rutland, together with his father, an agricultural labourer, his mother and siblings, Harry, Sarah Jane, born in the 4th quarter of 1892 in Ketton, Rebecca, born on the 14th June 1895 and baptised on the 18th August 1895 in St. Mary’s Church, Ketton and Tom, born on the 2nd November 1897 and baptised on the 20th November 1898 in St. Mary’s Church, Ketton, the latter two siblings were both born in Edith Weston. George’s father died in the 3rd quarter of 1905 in Ketton, aged 52. In April 1911 George was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Wytchley Warren, Edith Weston, together with his widowed mother a charwoman and siblings, Sarah, a domestic servant and Tom, a farm labourer.
George’s parents resided at Wytchley Warren, Ketton, Rutland, moving to Edith Weston after his father’s death. Before enlistment in Kitcheners New Army he had been employed in farm work. He embarked for France on the 29th July 1915, and was killed by a German sniper while on sentry duty in an advanced post in the trenches. Lieutenant A. S. Bennett, commanding Private Joyce’s platoon wrote:- “By a piece of great misfortune he placed his head over the parapet for a fraction of a second instead of using the periscope, and a German sniper fired at him. . . He was the kindest and most unselfish lad in my platoon, and leaves a gap in the ranks which will take a long time to refill. He was exceedingly popular among his comrades, and earned the respect of both the non commissioned officers and officers by the willing and painstaking manner in which he performed his various duties. He was buried on the Sunday morning in the first grave to be dug in a new cemetery south west of Bienvillers.”
George’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 16783, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 9th Battalion. It was with this Battalion that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 29th July 1915, nothing further is known of his military service until he was officially recorded as having been killed in action on the 4th September 1915, while serving with the 9th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. He was buried in Bienvillers Military Cemetery in France. George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His widowed mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of two shillings and six pence to commence on the 2nd April 1916.
The War Diary records: 4 Sept-15 - MONDICOURT. At 11.00pm on the 3rd September the Battalion marched from HUMBERCAMPS. The baggage of the Battalion which included a considerable amount of trench stores had some of it been taken to BIENVILLERS during the day. The Battalion passed through BIENVILLERS about 12.30am the relief was completed by 4.00am. ie: before daylight. During the night of the 4th/5th September mining was reported by “A” Company to have been heard under No.2 listening post in No.1 sector about three yards down and a bit to the left. Two or three of the men (previously miners) testified to hearing sounds similar to that made by miners. The Germans shouted out a good many times in English such sentences as, “Alles no good,” “You English Tommies,” “Are you the English from Armentieres,” No reply was made to their overtures.
On Saturday, October 2nd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private G. W. Joyce, 16783 Leicestershire Regiment (9th Battalion), is officially reported killed.