Private George Peel, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment. Service No: 29154.
Formerly, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment. Service no. 32013.
George was born in 1892, his birth registered in Keighley in the first quarter of the year. His parents were Robert and Mary Grace Peel née Bowden. Robert was a worsted weaver. Sadly Robert died in 1893 when George was still an infant and Mary Grace remarried in 1898 to John Moore, a stone quarryman. John and Mary Grace had a daughter, Ruth Moore, born in 1900.
In 1901 George was living at 49, Stanbury with his stepfather, mother and siblings John William Peel(17), Annie Peel(15), Effie Peel(11), Ruth Moore(1)
By 1911 the family had moved to 59 (and 61) Stanbury and John had become a farmer. George was a cotton warp dresser. His siblings were all still living at home too, most were working in the textile trade.
War service:
Sadly no service record exists for George, but we think he joined the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment at Haworth with the service number 32013 in about March 1917 and then was probably transferred to the 2nd Battalion Border Regiment in September 1917 and they then went out to Italy about six months later in November 1917. George served there until 20th July 1918, when he was killed in action aged 26. He was posted missing at the time and appears to be the only man from the regiment killed on that date.
His mother wrote to the International Red Cross to see if he had been taken prisoner and an enquiry was made on her behalf on 3rd October 1918. the records were checked but returned 'negatif envoyé' which means no records were found.
Keighley News 24th August 1918, page 3:
Private G. Peel, Border Regiment, of 85, Main Street, Haworth, and formerly of Stanbury, is reported missing. He joined the colours about twelve months ago, and has been in Italy about ten months.
George has no known grave and he is named on the Giavera Memorial at Giavera British Cemetery, which is in Northern Italy, about 30 miles (49 Km) North of Venice.
He is remembered locally on the Stanbury and Oldfield War Memorial in Stanbury Cemetery.
George was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his war service. These were probably sent to his mother Mary along with his Great War Memorial Plaque and Scroll. She received his remaining pay in September 1919 and later, a war gratuity of £5 10s. 0d.
Mary also received a war pension of 6s 6d per week, beginning on 18th March 1919.
Source information:
1891 England Census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
International Committee of the Red Cross - Prisoner of war records
Keighley News archives in Keighley Library
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
