Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Tapp, a coal miner, born in the July quarter of 1852 in Shepshed, Leicestershire and baptised on the 17th June 1853 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed (son of Thomas Tapp, 1828-1890 and Jane Brotherhood, 1827-1885) and his wife Mary Tapp (nee Bailey, married on the 17th November 1874 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed), born in the January quarter of 1854 in Breedon, Leicestershire and baptised on the 19th February 1854 in St. Matthew’s Church, Worthington, Leicestershire (daughter of Samuel Bailey, 1832 and Catherine Greasley, 1833). George, a schoolboy, was born in in the July quarter of 1886 in Shepshed and baptised on the 25th January 1887 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, he had one sibling, John Arthur, a schoolboy, born in the April quarter of 1881 in Shepshed and baptised on the 11th September 1881 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, in April 1891 the family home was at Charnwood Road, Shepshed. George’s mother died in the January quarter of 1894, in Shepshed, aged 40. In March 1901 George was employed as a brickyard labourer and was residing in the family home at Charnwood Road, Shepshed, together with his widowed father, a bricklayer’s labourer. George’s father married Rose Jackson in the January quarter of 1905 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district). In April 1911 George was employed as a brickyard labourer and was residing in the family home at Charnwood Road, Shepshed, together with his father, a bricklayer’s labourer, his step mother, Rose Tapp, born 1860 in Pinxton, Derbyshire and his widowed brother John, an agricultural carter.
George enlisted/attested into the Militia on the 10th January 1906 in Coalville, and was allotted the service number 9419. He gave his place of birth as Shepshed, Leicestershire and age as 18 years 5 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as stone quarryman, presently in the employ of Mr. Welsh, Forest Rock Granite Company, Whitwick, Leicestershire. He gave his present address as Charnwood Road, Shepshed, Leicestershire.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 11th January 1906 and recorded his apparent age as 18 years 5 months, that he was 5-feet 2¼ inches in height, weighed 105½ lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31 and 33½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was light brown. The following distinctive marks were noted, slightly knock kneed. He gave his religion as Wesleyan.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Thomas, mother Rose, (o) brother John Arthur, Charnwood Road, Shepshed, Nr. Loughborough.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. 10/1/06.
Posted. To 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 10/1/06.
Commenced. 49 days drill training. 10/1/06.
Purchased discharge. 31/3/06.
George’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Loughborough, date not known.
Joined at Leicester, date not known.
Posted to Leicestershire Regiment as Private, date not known.
Allotted the Service number 20786.
Posted to 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, as Private, date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France on the 2d December 1915.
Killed in action on the 14th July 1916.
Body not recovered and commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, George nominated his father, Thomas as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 14 Jul-16 - FRICOURT. Battalion moved off at 12.15am and moved up to the southern edge of MAMETZ WOOD. Fairly heavy shelling. They reached the reserve position MAMETZ WOOD 500 yards west of the front edge at 3.20am just as intense bombardment of German trenches began, and either went into existing trenches or dug in. At 5.20am “B” Company (Captain ANDERSON) and 1 platoon of “A” Company moved over to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD to reinforce the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT They finally reached the north of the wood of village and as far as possible dug themselves in. They were mixed up with the 6th, 7th and 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Heavy casualties including all Company officers. At 6.00am remainder of “A” Company moved to German 1st line trench and started to consolidate it. 2 platoons of “C” Company taken to Brigade Headquarters for carrying. At 8.15am Lieutenant Colonel HAIG with “D” Company and ½ of “C” Company moved to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG had orders to take over defence on the north western and western edge of the wood which was being heavily shelled. At 8.45am “D” Company (Lieutenant NOLAN) directed on the north western corner of the wood to clear wood and dig in on the edge. 2 platoons of “C” Company in support trench with Battalion Headquarters. Between 9.00am and 12.00 noon “D” Company met with heavy opposition and reached forward support line but failed to clear wood. Lieutenant NOLAN was killed. Lieutenant de LISLE and Lieutenant SMITH were wounded. Between 12.00 noon and 3.00pm Germans threatened counter attack, very heavy shelling of all lines. “A” Company brought to Battalion Headquarters and 2 platoons sent to reinforce 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. At 12.00 noon Colonel KUMME, 2 officers and 30 men captured by “D” Company. Between 4.00pm and 7.00pm Brigadier came and ordered all available men to attack the north western edge of the wood. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG, Captain EMMETT and 2nd Lieutenant STEPHENS with about 50 men advanced roping in about 100 men of 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT as supports. Captain EMMETT with 40 men reached the north western edge of the wood and killed 4 German observers and attempted to charge the German trenches 50 yards from the edge of the wood. Captain EMMETT and 36 men were killed by machine gun fire. Meanwhile Lieutenant Colonel HAIG with the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT and a few of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT had reached the railway line and came under enfilade machine gun fire (Lieutenant STEPHENS was killed). The edge of the wood close to the village was cleared and a small drive was organised towards Captain EMMETT’S party. They came under heavy sniping fire and Lieutenant HINCKLEY was wounded and most of his men killed or wounded. 7.00pm all posts started consolidating where they were. Patrols sent out constantly from the strong posts. Rough positions as below (On the Battalion Diary page a rough sketch shows the positions of the Companies) Between 9.00pm and 11.00pm heavy shelling and enemy rifle fire but no actual organised attack.