Lance Corporal George Wells MM

Rank or Title

Date of Death

16 Jul 1917

Media files and documents

War time / or Pre War occupation

School Teacher

Employer

Hitchin Road Boys School, Luton

Service Number

720730

Place of Birth

United Kingdom

World War I Address

United Kingdom

Place of Death

Belgium

Grave Location

Hedge Row Trench Cemetery
Belgium

War Memorial Location

Soldier or Civilian

  • Soldier

Source

The Luton News , 13th September 1917
Hitchin Road Boys'School war memorial

Lance Corporal George Wells, 725730, 24th Battalion London Regiment, is named on the Hitchin Road Boys School War Memorial as an Assistant Master who "fell in the First World War". He went to France in March 1915 with the London Regiment and early in 1917 had the distinction of being the first Luton Teacher to win a war decoration - the Military Medal. He was killed in action on July 16th, 1917, at the age of 29.

George Wells had come to Luton from Bristol as a fully qualified assistant master in June 1913. In late 1915, probably during leave, he married Beatrice Annie Moon who continued to live in Bristol.

While serving in France he was made a battalion runner, often carrying messages over open spaces under fire. He was awarded his Military Medal for exceptional gallantry in that role.

A letter sent personally by Lieut-Col Milner on July 17th said: "Last night, about 10.30, he [George] was standing in a trench next to an artillery officer and two of our boys, when an enemy shell landed almost on him. He can have had no knowledge of the end - it was so sudden. The others were all wounded."

Hitchin Road Boys'School war memorial

Author: HillC

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