Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Kirby, a labourer, born on the 4th July 1855 in Belgrave, Leicester and his wife Selina Kirby (nee Doore, married on the 8th March 1875 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester), born in the 2nd quarter of 1853 in Leicester. George Henry, a schoolboy was born in the 3rd quarter of 1887 in St. Mark’s, Leicester, his siblings were, Mary, born on the 4th February 1878 and baptised on the 13th February 1878 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester, James, a schoolboy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1880 and baptised on the 7th July 1880 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester, William, a schoolboy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1882, Ada Elizabeth Florence, a schoolgirl, born on the 7th August 1885 and baptised on the 2nd December 1885 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester and Clement, a schoolboy, born on the 16th December 1890, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 25, Rollestone Street, Leicester. In March 1901 George was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at 25, Rollestone Street, Leicester, together with his father, a plasterer’s labourer, his mother and siblings, Mary, a shoe trade machinist, James a leather trade dresser, William, a shoe trade finisher, Ada, a shoe trade machinist, Clement and Mabel, born on the 1st March 1892 in Leicester. In April 1911 George was absent from the family home at 25, Rollestone Street, Leicester, residing there was his father, an out of work plasterer’s labourer, his mother and siblings, James, a leather trade worker, Ada, a shoe trade machinist, Clement, a shoe trade clicker, Mabel, a shoe trade machinist, Mary and William, a furniture warehouseman. George’s father died in the 3rd quarter of 1911 in Leicester, aged 56.
George enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 10th July 1907 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 2/8185. He gave his place of birth as St. Mark’s, Leicester and age as 18 years 11 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 10th July 1907 and recorded his apparent age as 18 years 11 months, that he was 5 feet 7 inches in height, weighed 115 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was brown, his physical development was described as good. The following distinctive marks were noted, wart left of neck, scar right buttock. He gave his religion as Church of England
He gave his next of kin as his father, James Kirby, mother, Selina Kirby, 25, Rollestone Street, Leicester. older brother, James, older brother, William, younger brother Clement, sisters, Polly, Ada, Mabel.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Leicester. 10/7/07
Posted. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 11/7/07.
Posted 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 8/10/07.
Granted. Messing Allowance. Pte. 10/1/08.
Shorncliffe. -?- - 14/2/09.
Posted. 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 4/3/09.
H.T. Rohella. 2/3/09 – 25/3/09.
Belgaum. -?- - 11/2/11.
Madras. 13/2/11 – 4/2/13.
Bareilly. 11/2/13 – 13/3/13.
Ranikhet. 18/3/13 – 20/10/13.
Awarded. 3rd Class Certificate of Education. 27/9/13.
Bareilly. 24/10/13 – 25/3/14.
Delhi. 26/3/13 –
Regarded for official purposes as having died on or since (Place not stated). 19/12/14.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 10/7/07 – 3/3/09. 1 year 239 days.
India. 4/3/09 – 19/9/14. 5 years 200 days.
-?-. 20/9/14 – 11/10/14. 22 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 12/10/14 – 19/12/14. 51 days.
Total Service. 7 years 163 days.
He was awarded the 1914 Star with Clasp & Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
George’s surviving service record amounts to a total of fifteen pages, of which only five pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in extremely poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases 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 military service.
The War Diary records: 19 Dec-14 - A bombing party proceeded to the barricade up the ditch leading to the enemy and relieved the 6th JATS. One Company was to deploy from the ditch out to the right outside the wire in front of our parapet and lie down. Another Company was to do the same on the left. As soon as the advance commenced, the remaining two Companies were to do the same (one on each side of the ditch) and advance in support. At 3.15 am the deployment was completed in absolute silence and at 3.30 am the advance commenced. The Companies had three platoons in the front line and one in support, the latter accompanied by a bombing party. As soon as the parties came up in line with the bombing party in the ditch, the latter jumped over the barricade, cut the wire, advanced to enemy’s barricade and bombed it. The left Company had hardly gone twenty yards when a Maxim opened on their right, 20 more yards and they were stopped by a hedge with barbed wire in the ditch. This caused a few minutes delay. They got through and immediately a second Maxim opened. The Company then entered the trench under the fire of the two Maxims and captured it and the guns. Only one German was found in it, the rest having escaped during the delay at the hedge and ditch. This trench was very deep and narrow and about 60 yards long. The officer commanding the Company (Captain ROMILLY) concluded that there must be another trench in the rear. He accordingly got his men out of the trench and lined them up for a second advance. A Maxim gun immediately opened on his right, and another behind this one and to his left. He determined to go for the latter and advanced on it and got into the ditch in which it had been only to find it empty. The Company was now behind the Maxim that had opened on the right and Captain ROMILLY reformed his Company to attack this. At this moment our batteries opened fire and shells commenced bursting over his Company and the enemy’s trenches. Captain ROMILLY thinking he had gone too far decided to return to the 1st German trench he had taken. This he found occupied by the supporting Company, dawn was now breaking so this trench was put into a state of defence, and the natural ditch in front of it for a distance of some 200 yards. The Company on the right in its advance missed the first German trench, as it hove too much to its right. On passing this trench it was met by heavy Maxim and rifle fire, but they rushed forward and captured the trenches about 100 yards in length. This trench hove round to the right and they advanced along it with the bombing party in front. This trench led into one of the enemy’s main trenches and when within 20 yards of it the whole of the bombing party, 8 in number except one were put out of action. They also were met by a heavy enfilade rifle fire. The officer commanding decided to erect a barricade at once and this was accomplished under heavy rifle fire and hand bombing of the enemy. The trench was put into a state of defence. The Company in support moved forward and reinforced this Company, and I also sent a Company of the 2/3rd GURKHA RIFLES with the same purpose. I regret I have not been able to find out what happened to the Company under Major DUNDAS, but it evidently reinforced that ½ Battalion 2/3rd in reserve at daylight, nor is it possible to say what happened to the supporting Company on the right as Major KNATCHBULL was wounded. Lieutenant TOOLEY missing, but it eventually joined up with the leading Company. Stock was taken of the position as soon as it was light enough. The PIONEER Company immediately improved the communication trench, and as it could be seen that a main enemy’s trench flanked its right, I ordered it to be made into a fire trench as well, and to be traversed. This work was excellently done by the Company and they were of the greatest assistance. The captured trench on the right was also not only enfiladed by this trench, but commanded by it. There were no traverses in it and being very narrow, was very hard to work in. It was not long before the enemy started on it with heavy bombs from mortars and bringing a Maxim up the trench blew the barricade down. We were steadily pushed back along it, until finally we held only 30 yards of it, Captain BAMBEGGER, ROYAL ENGINEERS was killed while gallantly directing the erection of the barricade. At the same time the two Maxims opened in front with the object of enfilading the communications trench and the parapet had to be built up again to prevent this. The conclusion was more being forced on me that unless an attack was initiated on the right of the enemy’s trench in that direction held, the position was untenable and I reported accordingly, with this result which is already known. The retirement was well carried out and without loss. Finally the net profits were two Maxim guns, 4 prisoners and I personally saw 5 dead Germans left visible, but my officers report many more than this wounded and I consider more were killed. One of the killed was an officer but it was impossible to get to him.
On Thursday, October 14th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – LOCAL CASUALTIES – Information has been received from the War Office that Private G. KIRBY, 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, who has been missing for nearly 12 months, and who cannot be traced as a prisoner of war, is feared to be no longer alive. He lived with his mother, at 25, Rolleston-street, North Evington, and was an old Bridge-road boy.
On Wednesday, October 27th,1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTER’S KILLED IN ACTION.” – (A photograph accompanied the article) – Pte. G. KIRBY, 2nd Leicester’s, an old Bridge-road boy; brother lives at 25, Rollaston-street. Missing, believed dead.