Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Souter (Sowter) Oswin, a coal merchant’s labourer, born on the 8th November 1859 in Syston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 27th November 1859 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston (son of William Oswin and Mary Souter) and his wife Sarah Jane (Ann) Oswin (nee Preston, married on the 14th April 1879 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston), born on the 7th March 1860 in Syston and baptised on the 8th April 1860 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston (daughter of John Berridge Preston and Alice Smith). George Edward was born in the April quarter of 1896 in Syston and baptised on the 20th May 1896 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, his siblings were, Mary Ann, a Griswold knitter, born in the July quarter of 1879 and baptised on the 6th July 1879 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Joseph Ernest, an iron trade moulder, born on the 28th August 1881 and baptised on the 24th August 1881 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Maude Agnes (Alice), a Griswold knitter, born in the October quarter of 1883 and baptised on the 29th October 1883 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Ada, a wool trade spinner, born on the 14th September 1887 and baptised on the 9th November 1887 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Gertrude Eliza, born on the 5th October 1889 and baptised on the 14th February 1890 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, John William, born in the January quarter of 1892 and baptised on the 13th July 1892 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Selina Emma, born on the 30th March 1894 and baptised on the 19th April 1894 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Mildred Ellen, born on the 28th March 1898 and baptised on the 1st June 1898 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston and Herbert Arthur, born in the April quarter of 1900 and baptised on the 9th May 1900 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, all his siblings were born in Syston, in March 1901 the family home was at Brookside, Syston. In April 1911 George was residing in the family home at Brookside, Syston together with his father, a coal carter, his mother and siblings, Ada, a stocking trade mender, Gertrude, a stocking trade mender, John, a hosiery trade counter man, Selina, a shoe trade machinist, Mildred, Herbert, a schoolboy and Alfred Harry, a schoolboy, born on the 14th January 1904 in Syston and baptised on the 27th February 1904 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston. George’s older brother, John William died on the 6th October 1917 from wounds received in action.
George enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 6th January 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 3622. He gave his present address as 3, Brookside, Syston.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 6th January 1915 and recorded that he was 5 feet 8½ inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Mr. J. Oswin, 3, Brookside, Syston.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Private. 6/1/15.
Posted. To 4th (Reserve) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 6/1/15.
Embodied service commenced. 6/1/15.
Discharged. Under para 392 – (II) (Having been irregularly enlisted) King’s Regulations. 8/1/15.
George’s surviving service record amounts to a total of four pages, of which all pages relate directly to his short period of military service, and these are in good condition and offer an accurate description of the events that took place during his first short period of military service.
George enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 25th January 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 3887. He gave his age as 19 years, his trade or calling as boot and shoe. He gave his present address as Brookside, Syston.
His medical examination took place at The Magazine, Leicester on the 25th January 1915 and recorded that he was 5 feet 9¼ inches in height, weighed 144 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 36 inches and his physical development was described as good.
He gave his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. J. S. Oswin, Brookside, Syston.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Private. 25/1/15.
Posted. 4th (Reserve) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 25/1/15.
Embodied service commenced. 25/1/15.
Transferred. 3/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 14/5/15.
Transferred. 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 29/6/15.
Embarked. Southampton aboard the S.S. Queen Alexandra to join the British Expeditionary Force in France. 29/6/15.
Disembarked. Rouen. 30/6/15.
Joined. No.2 Entrenching Bn. 23/7/15.
Killed in action. In the field. 13/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 25/1/15 – 29/6/15. 156 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 30/6/15 – 13/10/15. 106 days.
Total Service. 262 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
George’s surviving service record amounts to a total of fourteen pages, of which only six pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in poor condition, the hand written information in some cases is 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 service.
George’s mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of five shillings to commence on the 21st November 1916, after his brother John died from wounds, the weekly pension was increased to eleven shillings commensurate on the 9th May 1919, in respect of both brothers.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Friday October 22nd 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL TERRITORIAL’S WOUNDED.” – SYSTON TERRITORIAL KILLED. On Wednesday news was received by Mr. and Mrs. Oswin, Brookside, Syston, from a comrade at the front, stating that their son, Private George Edward Oswin, of the 4th Leicesters, had been killed in action on the 13th inst. Private Oswin, who was 19 years of age, enlisted last January.
On Friday, October 22nd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – N.C.O’S AND MEN. – On Wednesday news was received by Mr. and Mrs. Oswin, Brookside, Syston, from a comrade at the front, stating that their son, Private GEORGE EDWARD OSWIN, of the 4th Leicester’s, had been killed in action on the 13th inst. Private Oswin, who was 19 years of age, enlisted last January.