George HAGEDORN Private 22758, 10 th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Died 1 st July 1916. George Hagedorn was born in Sunderland in 1883. By the age of 18 he was working as a general carter. In 1911 he was living in High Street, Howden-le-Wear, working as a brickyard labourer. He later enlisted, and left for France on the 5 th May 1915 with the 10 th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, which led to his being at the Battle of the Somme. Zero hour on July 1 st 1916 was at 07.30am when combined assaults were to be made on Mametz, La Boisselle and Fricourt. In preparation for the assault, the immediate area ahead had been bombarded with shells in order to clear the way for the advance, and the 9 th and 10 th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, including Private 22758 Hagedorn, secured a position outside Fricourt. Incursions made by further brigades were not as successful and, on a day when so many lost their lives, it is not clear whether George Hagedorn ever reached Fricourt or was killed whilst holding position. His body was never found. He was yet another of Howden-le-Wear’s men who is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Remembering Our Fallen

Howden-le-Wear History Society

Index of Thiepval Memorial identifying George Hagedorn. The family was to suffer more pain when George’s younger brother Arthur Hagedorn was also killed during the conflict. He was serving with the 9 th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment when he was killed on the 6 th June 1918. Arthur was buried in Chambrecy British Cemetery, near Reims in France.