George WEARMOUTH Private 18477, 13 th Battalion, Durham light Infantry. Died 10 th July 1916. George Wearmouth was born on the 21 st January 1891 at Quarry Burn, Hunwick. By 1901 the family had moved to North Bitchburn, later moving to Helmington Terrace, Hunwick. By 1911 George, now 20 years old, had followed his father into the mines and was employed as a shifter. When he married Mary Anne Singlewood a year later, he and his wife set up house in North Bitchburn. George enlisted in the 13 th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, on the 7 th September 1914, at the age of 23 years. He served in Britain for almost a year, then went to France on the 25 th August 1915. He had two weeks' home leave in March 1916. On the 14 th May 1916 George was attached to the 68 th Machine Gun Corps as a qualified machine gunner and was fighting in the protracted battle of Verdun. On 10 th July 1916 he was reported missing, at the age of 25 years. George is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial and on the Howden-le-Wear War Memorial.

RememberingOur Fallen

Howden-le-Wear History Society

Army form identiying the separation allowance paid by the Army to Mary Anne with the voluntary addition of 3s 6d from George allocated from his pay.

The second form was included with George’s belongings, his disc and photos, that were returned to Mary Anne in May 1917. Images courtesy of www.ancestry.co.uk