265100 Pte. George Joseph Gaisford British Army from:New Tredegar My grandfather George Gaisford volunteered for WW1
He was 17 and did it mainly to impress my gran!
He of course knew nothing of the horror awaiting him.
He served at Ypres, the Somme, Mametz Wood.
He was gassed and whilst recuperating most of his battalion were killed.
He rarely spoke about his experiences unless remorselessly cajoled by my father. The recollections were of putting parts of bodies into body bags, drinking from a well and as the water lowered dead German soldiers were at the bottom. Capturing some German soldiers then an officer on horseback came along and took the credit!
A young German soldier surrendered to my grandfather and despite instructions not to take prisoners George was unable to shoot him, so instead he kicked him up the backside and pointed to the German line.
George worked as a miner at Elliots Colliery, New Tredegar.
He sadly died in November 1968. He had 100 per cent pneumoconiosis as a result of working underground in appalling conditions.
He was a born fighter and despite a doctor giving him just two weeks to live he lasted another two years.
He was a union rep and a proud socialist.
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