Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Ireland, a stone quarryman, born in the 2nd quarter of 1869 in Shepshed, Leicestershire and baptised on the 18th July 1869 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed and his wife Emily Ann (Annie) Ireland (nee Sharpe, married on the 26th December 1891 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed), born on the 14th February 1873 in Leicester and baptised on the 3rd May 1875 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester. George Alfred was born in the 4th quarter of 1898 in Whitwick, his siblings were, Edith Annie, born in the 3rd quarter of 1892, Cradock, born in the 3rd quarter of 1893 and baptised on the 14th May 1896 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, Joseph Thomas, born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Shepshed and baptised on the 14th May 1896 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, the latter three siblings were all born in Shepshed and Ethel, born on the 27th July 1896 in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, in March 1901 the family home was at Forest Street, Shepshed. In April 1911 George was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Forest Street, Shepshed, together with his father, a stone quarry labourer, his mother and siblings, Edith, a hosiery trade winder, Cradock, an apprentice, Joseph, a quarry boy, Ethel, a hosiery trade runner on, Constance Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born on the 12th August 1901, John Wittingham, a schoolboy, born on the 31st December 1904 and baptised on the 14th December 1904 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, Maurice Frank, born in the 1st quarter of 1906, Emily May, born in the 3rd quarter of 1908 and Kenneth William, born on the 10th August 1910, the latter five siblings were all born in Shepshed. George also had another sibling, Dorothy Sylvia, born on the 23rd February 1913 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. George’s older brother Joseph fell in action on the 25th September 1915.
George’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Loughborough into the Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force), and was allotted the service number 4643, and posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 1/5th Battalion. It is unknown when George first entered the theatre of war in France, however as he was not recorded on the medal rolls for the 1914-15 Star, it must be assumed that it was at some time after the 31st December 1915. Under the Army Council Instruction of 1917 that promulgated a new numbering system for all Territorial Force units, he was allotted the service number 241703. And on a date unknown George was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was reported to be missing in action on the 22nd March 1918, while serving with “C” Company of the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, inquiries were instigated through the British Red Cross to discover if he had been taken as a Prisoner of War, but no trace could be found of his whereabouts and he was therefore, for official purposes presumed to have died on or since that date. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in the Pas de Calais, France. George was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18 - The Battalion were in the VAULX - MORCHIES line. The night passed fairly quietly. The morning of the 22nd March dawned with a heavy fog and as soon as it was light the enemy put down a very heavy barrage on the VAULX - MORCHIES line and VAULX. During the night in order to concentrate the Battalion, “B” Company had been ordered to side step to the right and get into touch with “D” Company replacing 1 Company of the SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. Advice received during the morning that this was not effected. The Officer Commanding the SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT refusing to move, as he had had no orders. At 8.30 am orders were received from Brigade for Battalion Headquarters to move to dug outs east of MARICOURT WOOD, the Commanding Officer, Adjutant and four Orderlies moved off at 9.00 am leaving the remainder to follow under Captain H. W. J. BROOKER. No dug outs could be found in the place to be occupied, so Battalion Headquarters was established at the CROSS ROADS I.4.d at 10.30 am sharing the same with the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT who had also moved. During the night of the 21st/22nd the 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT and the 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS withdrew from the VAULX - MORCHIES line to a position at I.10.0 central, their places being taken by 1 Company of the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. At 11.00 am the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT reported that the enemy had broken through the VAULX - MORCHIES line between C.28.c. 85.15 and C.28.c 40.60. An officer of the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT reported a few minutes later that the breach extended from C.28.d. 2.2 to C.27.b. 3.7 on a frontage held by 2 Companies of 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT, 1 Company of the 11th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT and 1 Company 8th BORDER REGIMENT. A request was sent to the 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS and 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT to move up to cover valley from line SUNKEN ROAD I.4.c to I.3.d. Defensive flank for high ground east of VAULX WOOD regained by 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT and bombing parties sent forward to recover lost trenches. Reinforcements asked for, for left of Brigade front. At 11.40 am enemy reported massing in C.28.a.b.c.d. Officer Commanding “C” Company 11th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT reported that he had only 37 men left and that enemy were in VAULX WOOD. He was instructed to look after his left flank. 1 officer and 40 other ranks of 11th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT who had come from VAULX - MORCHIES line reported at Battalion Headquarters. At 2.00 pm “B” Company reported that they had gained some ground in bombing up the VAULX - MORCHIES line, and were continuing the bombing attack with the help of 1 officer and 60 other ranks of the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. MARICOURT WOOD and the vicinity of Battalion Headquarters were heavily shelled throughout the morning. At 2.30 pm heavy bombardment by both sides opened on the right of the Brigade front. At 3.15 pm enemy seen from Battalion Headquarters pouring into VAULX - MORCHIES line between LAGNICOURT – MARICOURT WOOD ROAD and VAULX WOOD. At 3.45 pm the breach this time was effective and the situation was becoming very grave. The withdrawal became somewhat disorderly and the enemy came rapidly through C.28 to I.4., C.29.d and MORCHIES. A Ridge in I.10.a and c was held by our Machine gunners, and troops withdrawing were collected and an orderly withdrawal instituted to the partially consolidated line in I.10 central. Up to this time only 1 man (wounded, belonging to “B” Company) of the Battalion had come back from the VAULX - MORCHIES line. At 4.30 pm the enemy brought up his light machine guns with great rapidity and was soon putting up a strong barrage with them along the valley in I.10 central and the ridges east and west of it. This valley and the heights were thickly held by troops of 25th Division. An immediate counter attack was urgently required if the VAULX - MORCHIES line was to be regained, but all the troops holding the new line had orders that they were on no account to move forward. The line ran through C.11.c, I.10.d, I.10.c and I.9.d. Eventually a number of Tanks (about 16) in the visible front came forward and under very heavy shell and Machine Gun fire advanced as far as the VAULX - MORCHIES line with most of the enemy retiring before them. This Tank attack was not supported by infantry and gradually petered out as the Tanks became casualties or used up all their ammunition. At 9.00 pm the remnants of the 3 Battalions of the Brigade were:- 1st LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT about 40 all ranks under Lieutenant Colonel F. LATHAM, D.S.O. 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT about 80 all ranks under Lieutenant C. P. BASSENTHWAITE. 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS about 40 all ranks under Captain GILES were disposed in sections of trench in valley in I.10.c with Battle Headquarters at I.10.d.10.90. The night passed quietly. Casualties, other ranks “A” Company 6 killed, 14 wounded, 46 missing, “B” Company 3 killed, 14 wounded, 83 missing, “C” Company 6 killed, 21 wounded, 49 missing, “D” Company 1 killed, 12 wounded, 113 missing. Officer casualties Lieutenant Acting Captain F. E. SHELTON killed, 2nd Lieutenant G. MANSFIELD wounded and missing, Lieutenant Acting Captain J.H. JOHN missing, Lieutenant B. C. LAWRENCE missing, 2nd Lieutenant O. C. HARPER missing, 2nd Lieutenant A. H. BAGSHAW missing, 2nd Lieutenant A. C. ANSELL missing, 2nd Lieutenant M. MILLS missing, Lieutenant Acting Captain S. T. HARTSHORNE wounded remained at duty, Captain F. TAYLOR (U.S.M.S.) wounded remained at duty.