213222 Pte. George Smith Havinden British Army Queen's Westminster Rifles 1/16 Btn. London Regiment from:20 Surrey Road, Peckham Rye, London George Smith Havinden was born on the 3rd of June 1894 in Camberwell/Dulwich, Surrey. His parents were George Smith Havinden a Bonnet Manufacturer, born 29 January 1861 in Bethnal Green (died 1 May 1908); married on 28 December 1891 to Sally (Sarah) Elizabeth Davies, born 31 March 1859 in Bermondsey (died 10 February 1949). Sister: Maud Havinden, born 25 December 1892 in Dulwich, died 24 April 1996 in Croydon, Surrey.
Outline of Great War history:
These dates have been taken from 46 postcards sent by George to his mother. The postcards have been donated to the National Army Museum but scans have been retained. There are also 29 postcards/photographs without inscriptions; in twelve of these, George can be identified.
- c. May 1915: Joined up 2nd Battalion Queen’s Westminster Rifles (2/16 County of London Regiment), B Company 8 Platoon – Private 2734 (later 550622)
- 17 – 20 May 1915: Marched from Watford(?) to Saffron Walden.
- 20 May – Aug 1915: Training.
- 17 Aug 1915: To France, Active Service – C Company, 12 Platoon.
- Early Sept 1915: Rouen, convalescing (diarrhoea).
- 16 – 28 Sept 1915: Active Service Ypres.
- 20 Nov – 4 Dec 1915: Active Service Rouen, No. 2 Territorial Base; on 30 November, changed to 1/16 County of London Regiment, QWR, C Company, 12 Platoon.
- 13 Apr – 9 Oct 1916: Hospitalized to Urmston Military Hospital, Blackwater Road, Eastbourne – Urmston V. A. D., Sussex /2. Newspaper cutting shows he was then attached to 182 R. E.
- 27 Jun – 7 Aug 1917: Active Service Le Havre, QWR 14 Camp 7th IBD (Infantry Base Depot?).
- On 10 July, moved to Rouen, 1/16 London Regiment, 56th Divisional Depot Battalion, C Company, 12 Platoon.
- On 13 July, moved to Frevent (changed on 17 July to 10 Platoon).
- On 29 July, moved to St Omer.
- n 7 August, moved to Poperinghe. George lost an eye in the War. Since there are no further postcards, perhaps the injury occurred in August 1917 and he was invalided out.
In Civilian life George worked for the
Statistics Branch, Ministry of Transport, Whitehall Gardens. he lived with his mother and sister Maud in Peckham Rye. Moved with them to Selsdon, Surrey in c. 1932. and continued living there with his sister after their mother died in 1949 until his death in 1981.
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