Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Ainsworth, a joiner, born 1855 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire and his wife Martha Ainsworth (nee Greaves, married on the 13th June 1879 in St. Mary’s Church, New Humberstone, Leicester) born 1854 in Gaddesby, Leicestershire. George William, was born in the 2nd quarter of 1880 in Barrow upon Soar and was baptised on the 23rd May 1880 in the Parish Church, Barrow upon Soar, in April 1881 the family home was at 6, Bridge Street, Barrow upon Soar. In April 1891 George was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Freehold Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, together with his father, a joiner, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a schoolboy, born 1883 and baptised on the 2nd September 1883 in the Parish Church, Barrow upon Soar and Herbert, a schoolboy, born 7th May 1885 and baptised on the 7th March 1886 in the Parish Church, Barrow upon Soar, the latter two siblings were both born in Barrow upon Soar, Francis Harry, a schoolboy, born 1887 and baptised on the 8th November 1887 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough and Edgar, born 1889, the latter two siblings were both born in Loughborough, in April 1891 the family home was at Freehold Street, Loughborough. In March 1901 George was absent from the family home at 21, Empress Road, Loughborough, residing there was his father, a joiner, his mother and siblings, Herbert, Harry, an errand boy, Edgar, a schoolboy, James Leonard, a schoolboy, born 8th February 1892, Fred, a schoolboy, born 1894 and John Edward, a schoolboy, born 11th January 1897, the latter three siblings were all born in Loughborough. In April 1911 George was serving as a Lance Corporal with the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards and was stationed at Ramillies Barracks, Marlborough Lines, Aldershot, Hampshire, he was residing with his wife Emily May Ainsworth (nee Bullen, married in the 4th quarter of 1908 in the Aylesham, Norfolk district), born in the 2nd quarter of 1881 in Coltishall, Norfolk and their son Cyril William, born in the 3rd quarter of 1909 in Pimlico, Middlesex. Although George was officially registered at birth as George William, it appears that he was known by his second name of William.
George’s Army enlistment documents exist, but are not openly available, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Coldstream Guards in Loughborough, Leicestershire on the 8th January 1900, being allotted the service number 3198, he was subsequently posted after the completion of his training to the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards. He served in South Africa from the 16th January to the 6th October 1902 and was awarded the Queen’s Medal with two clasps. He was promoted Lance Corporal on the 14th March 1910, Corporal on the 11th July 1912, Lance Sergeant on the 18th July 1914 and finally Full Sergeant on the 9th August 1914. He first entered the theatre of war in France on the 12th August 1914, being killed in action a month later, on the 13th September 1914, near Soupir, France. He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On Friday October 2nd 1914 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “SIX SOLDIER SONS.” – Mrs. Ainsworth, of Freehold-street, Loughborough, is proud of the fact that she has seven soldier sons – two, William and Jack, are in the 2nd Coldstream Guards and are at the front; Arthur is in the Territorial’s; Bert has enlisted with his younger brother Leonard in the New Army; Edgar is with the Leicester’s in India and Fred with the Engineers, now at South Shields. – Since this paragraph was written Mrs. Ainsworth has received notice that her eldest son, William was killed in action of September 16th. Her son had his home in London, and leaves a widow and two children. This makes the second Loughborough man to lose his life, as the previous week Private Richard Green, of the Grenadier Guards, in which he was a reservist, died from wounds whilst being brought from France to England. He was buried at sea.
The War Diary records: 13 Sep-14 – (Sunday). Brigade moved at 8.00am to position of readiness on high ground South of ST. MARIS. At about noon the Battalion was ordered to seize the crossing of the AISNE at CHAVONNE, the bridge at that place having been destroyed. This operation was successfully carried and here was crossed by a temporary tressle bridge just before dark. There was considerable opposition from hostile infantry and machine guns – and at least a squadron of German Cavalry was also seen retiring from the bridge. On reaching the high ground North of CHAVONNE the advance Company came under heavy artillery fire – and shortly afterwards the Battalion was ordered to secure the position and billet for the night in CYS LA COMMUNE – leaving 1 Company to secure the temporary bridge at CHAVONNE. Casualties 1 N.C.O. killed and 22 N.C.O.’s and men wounded (of whom 2 subsequently died of wounds).

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Article in the Coalville Times, 09/10/1914:

LOUGHBOROUGH MAN KILLED

ONE OF A WIDOW’S SEVEN SONS IN THE ARMY

Mrs Ainsworth, a widow of 25 Freehold Street, Loughborough, who had all her seven sons serving with the colours – two of them fighting at the front in the Coldstream Guards – has received news that one, William, was killed in action on September 16th. He was married with two children.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby, September 2017.