Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Augustus Healey, a draper’s assistant, born in the October quarter of 1866 in Stamford, Lincolnshire and baptised on the 11th November 1866 in St. Michael’s Church, Stamford (son of George Healey, 1823-1886 and Sarah Ann Jackson, 1833) and his wife Margaret Sophia Healey (nee Allen, married on the 6th March 1887 in St. Peter’s Church, Oadby, Leicestershire), born in the July quarter of 1863 in Nantwich, Cheshire (daughter of James Allen, 1825 and Mary J. West, 1841). George Herbert was born on the 6th September 1893 in Leicester and baptised on the 4th November 1894 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester, his siblings were, Margaret, born on the 11th May 1887 in Oadby and baptised on the 19th June 1887 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester, Constance May, born on the 20th June 1888 and baptised on the 12th August 1888 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester, Ethel, born on the 23rd October 1895, Gladys, born in the January quarter of 1898 and Doris, born on the 1st December 1900, the latter four siblings were all born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 15, Osborne Road, St. Stephen’s, Leicester.
George’s mother died at the General Infirmary, Leicester in October 1910, aged 45 years and was interred on the 15th October in Gilroes Cemetery, Groby Road, Leicester.
In April 1911 George was employed as a draper’s clerk and was residing in the family home at 11, Willow Brook Road, St. Barnabas’, Leicester, together with his widowed father, a drapery shop walker and siblings, Margaret, a hosiery trade machinist, Constance, Ethel, a hosiery trade machinist, Gladys, a schoolgirl, Doris, a schoolgirl and Reginald, a schoolboy, born on the 15th September 1902 in Leicester.
George’s father died at 81, Dronfield Street, Leicester in November 1914, aged 49 years and was interred on the 20th November in Gilroes Cemetery, Groby Road, Leicester.
Royal Naval Division Service Record.
Name. George Herbert Healey. No. Z/4275.
Rating. Ordinary Seaman. Date of Entry. 9/9/15. Date of Birth. 6/9/93.
Place of Birth. [Not recorded]. Address. 45, Avon Street, Leicester.
Previous Service. [Not recorded].
Religion Church of England. Swim? Yes. Civil Employment. Cashier.
Next of Kin. Sister.
Name. Miss Healey Mrs. Crew.
Address. 45, Avon Street Leicester. Athol House, Evington Lane, Leicester
Height. 5-foot 6 ½ inches. Chest. I. 34 inch. D. 32 inch.
Complexion. Medium. Colour of Hair. Brown. Colour of Eyes. Brown.
Marks, wounds and scars. None recorded. Notes. None recorded.
During his period of service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. Royal Naval Division Depot. Crystal Palace. 9/9/15.
Posted. To 5th Depot Bn. 13/9/15.
Drafted. From 5th Depot Bn. to 1st Reserve Bn. Blandford. 11/11/15.
Character, very good. Ability, satisfactory. 12/11/15.
Admitted. To Divisional Hospital. 15/12/15.
Joined. 1st Reserve Bn. Blandford. 20/12/15.
Rated. Able Bodied Seaman. 10/3/16.
Posted. To Machine Gun Company, Blandford. 10/5/16.
Joined. Machine Gun Company, Blandford. 16/5/16.
Leave from 2-3/1/16 to 10/1/16.
Embarked. Overseas. 30/7/16.
Disembarked. In France. 1/8/16.
Posted. To 188th Brigade 63rd Royal Naval Division. Character, very good. Ability, satisfactory. 1/8/16.
Joined. 188th Brigade Machine Gun Company. In the Field. 12/8/16.
Reported. Killed in action. In the Field. 14/11/16.
Buried in Sherwood British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel (V Corps Cemetery No. 20) 4¼ miles North of Albert.
Exhumed and reburied in Ancre River Cemetery, 4 miles North, North, East of Albert. 28/1/20.
The War Diary records: 13 Nov-16 – (Z Day) 5.45am. Barrage opened and attack commences, Machine Guns advancing in accordance with attached appendix.
The section on the right front was heavily fired on by hostile Machine Guns. The section officer was seen to enter the German front line in advance of his sections and was not seen again. Three-gun crews were put out of action and the remaining gun crews being reduced by casualties lay in shell holes for 8 hours and eventually joined up with another section. The 3rd section which advanced with the 1st ROYAL MARINES owing to the darkness and thick mist went too far North. They came into action against a party of German bombers in the front-line trench with success. Both section officers were wounded soon after. The section advanced towards “Y” RAVINE. Here 3 guns were put out of action, the 4th under Petty Officer ELLIOTT, pushed forward with the front line and kept his gun in action until relieved on the 15th.
The first section that carried out indirect fire during the advance to the first objective, after refilling the belts pushed forward at 6.30am to the South of “Y” RAVINE and came into action against German Machine Guns with success. When the guns were silenced, this section went along the German second line on being informed of hostile strong point about Q.17.b.3.4 taking up position about 12.00 noon. A heavy fire was brought to bear on the German guns in order to facilitate the advance of the infantry. The 4th section which also carried out indirect fire during the advance to the first objective pushed forward to the German front line about 8.00am. On attempting to advance beyond, they were met by heavy Machine Gun fire and were unable to go forward. During the night 13/14th these guns came into action just East of the German front line and carried out indirect fire on the enemy’s communication trenches, forming a strong point in case the infantry were forced to retire.
14 Nov-16 - At dawn the infantry advanced to the GREEN line and 1 gun of this unit went forward with them and 1 gun of the 190th MACHINE GUN COMPANY which had been placed under the charge of Leading Seaman MALLETT of this unit.
In the afternoon after the capitulation of the German strong point the 4th section advanced to the German 2nd line.
Casualties: Officers: - 1 missing, 3 wounded. Other Ranks: - 51 killed, wounded and missing.
APPENDIX “C” No.1.
ORDERS FOR 188th Machine Gun Company.
Distribution. [1] Four guns will advance with each front-line Battalion. Six guns will cover the advance to the first objective with indirect fire from the line CARNALEA-SHOOTERS HILL-OLD FRENCH TRENCH.
On the first objective being gained these six guns and the remaining two guns will follow the Support Battalions to the second objective.
Object. [2] All guns must be pushed boldly forward, and come in to action in close support of the Battalion with which they advance.
The Left flank of the Brigade must be carefully protected. Section Officers in the Left Sub-section on reaching their objective should endeavour to obtain position from which the left flank of each successive advance may be covered.
On arriving at the final objective all guns available must cover all approaches and the flanks of the Brigade, should the advance on the flanks be held up.
Hostile Strong Points. [3] Should these be encountered; Machine Guns should be detailed to cover them.
Assembly. [4] On “Y” day four guns in support of the HOWE Battalion will be close to the junction of ROBERTS TRENCH and BEDFORD STREET, four guns in support of 1st ROYAL MARINES near the junction of ROBERTS TRENCH and LONG SAP, two guns near the junction of BEDFORD STREET and VICTORIA STREET.
Officer Commanding Machine Gun Company to arrange with Officer Commanding Battalions concerned.
Headquarters. [5] Headquarters will be attached to ANSON Battalion.
Personnel. [6] 32 men will be attached as Ammunition carriers (two per gun). These will report on the evening of “X” day as laid down in Assembly Orders.
Signed.
Captain, Brigade Major, 188th Infantry Brigade. 9-11-16.
On Saturday December 9th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 6, under the heading. – ROLL OF HONOUR. - (A photograph accompanied the article). – A.B. George H. Healey, Machine Gun Co., R.N.D., killed Nov. 14; eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Healey, of Lester.
[recognitum VII-XII-MMXXIII]