Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Woolston, a general labourer, born on the 23rd February 1858 in Rothley, Leicestershire and baptised on the 21st March 1858 in SS. Mary & John Church, Rothley and his wife Harriett Woolston (nee Antill, married on the 5th November 1878 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire), born in the 4th quarter of 1857 in Mountsorrel. George Harry was a a granite quarry worker, and was born in the 1st quarter of 1885 and baptised on the 5th April 1885 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, his siblings were Keziah, an elastic trade weaver, born in the 2nd quarter of 1879 and baptised on the 27th April 1879 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, Ellen Elizabeth, an elastic trade weaver, born in the 4th quarter of 1880 and baptised on the 2nd January 1881 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, Susanna, an elastic trade weaver, born on the 23rd September 1882 and baptised on the 29th October 1882 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, Ethel, a Griswold worker, born in the 2nd quarter of 1887 and baptised on the 5th June 1887 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, John William, born on the 23rd November 1889 and baptised on the 29th December 1889 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, Ernest, born on the 25th May 1893 and baptised on the 23rd July 1893 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, Alfred, born in the 3rd quarter of 1896 and baptised on the 23rd August 1896 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, and Doris, born on the 28th November 1900 and baptised on the 7th April 1901 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, all his siblings were born in Mountsorrel, in March 1901 the family home was The Green, Mountsorrel. In April 1911 George was absent from the family home at The Green, Mountsorrel, residing there was his father, a baker’s labourer, his mother and siblings, Ethel, a Griswold worker, John, a boot trade worker, Ernest, a boot trade worker, Alfred, a a boot trade inker and Doris, a schoolgirl, meanwhile, George was employed as a quarry trade worker and was residing in the family home at 27, Market Place, Mountsorrel, together with his wife Ada Woolston (nee Brewin, married on the 6th November 1909 in St. Peter’s Church, Mountsorrel), born on the 30th September 1888 in Mountsorrel and their daughter May, born on the 3rd May 1910 in Mountsorrel. George and Ada had another child, Simeon, who was born on the 11th October 1911 in Mountsorrel. George’s younger brother Alfred, fell in action on the 21st September 1915. George’s widow married Herbert Whittington on the 20th December 1919 in St. Peter’s Church, Mountsorrel.
George’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, Territorial Force and was allotted the service number2245, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 1/5th Battalion. It was with this Battalion that he first entered the theatre of war when he landed in Le Havre, France on the 28th February 1915. George was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, but the dates for his rise through the ranks are unknown, it is also unclear when he was transferred to the 8th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment where he was allotted the service number 40206. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was officially recorded as having been killed in action on the 25th September 1916, while serving with the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France. George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
George’s widow Ada, was awarded a weekly Army Pension of twenty two shillings and eleven pence for herself and her two children, to commence on the 18th June 1917.
The War Diary records: 24-30 Sept-16 - East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about a 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.