LANCE BOMBARDIER 93240 GEORGE HENRY EARNSHAW, 323rd SEIGE BATTERY, ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY. DIED OF WOUNDS18th APRIL 1918, AGED 32 YEARS.


LANCE BOMBARDIER 93240 GEORGE HENRY EARNSHAW, 323rd SEIGE BATTERY, ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY. DIED OF WOUNDS18th APRIL 1918, AGED 32 YEARS.




The third of seven children of Edwin and Ada Earnshaw, George was born on 11th May 1885 at 43 Brook Street, Ilkley. His father was a watchmaker and jeweller and the family and servants lived above the shop. Edwin Earnshaw died in 1889 and the business was carried on by his wife Ada and his eldest son. George attended the Ilkley National School on Leeds Road and later Bradford Technical College on Great Horton Road where he undertook a commercial course. His first job was at the age of 16 when he went to work for Messrs. William Haggas and Sons, wool spinners of Cross Roads, near Keighley. Clearly, George had an aptitude for business and was rapidly promoted and by the age of 22 was a salesman for the firm. In 1911 he sought a more senior position with the firm of E.H. Gates and Co. and it was whilst working for the company the war broke out in 1914.

George continued to live in Ilkley at his mother’s home at West Dene on Oakburn Road and was well known in the town as a player with Ilkley Rugby Club. It was whilst at home in Ilkley that in December 1915 he went to the recruiting office in the town an enlisted into the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Initially, George remained at home until May the following year when he was posted to the artillery school on Salisbury Plain where he became a specialist signaller. In March 1917 he arrived in France and joined the 323rd Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Siege batteries manned the British Army’s largest guns including 8 and 9.5 inch howitzers. Located some distance behind the front line their function was to support major attacks and provide harassing fire designed to disrupt the enemy. Because of their destructive capabilities siege batteries were the subject of frequent counter battery barrages from the Germans, intent on neutralising their effectiveness.

On the 18th April 1918 the Germans continued their major offensive towards the town of Ypres. Having already pushed the British back some distance and retaken Passchenaele Ridge, which been won at huge cost the previous year, Germans now attacked towards the town of Bethune. The 323rd Battery were located a few miles to the North-West of the town and in the course of the attack were subject to heavy shelling which caused many casualties amongst the gunners including George Earnshaw who was badly wounded. Evacuated to the 12 Field Ambulance at Gonnehem he succumbed to his wounds later that day.

Today Lance-Bombardier George Henry Earnshaw lies in the British Military Cemetery at Gonnehem, where on his grave his mother had carved “He is not dead but sleepeth”, and is remembered with pride on our war memorial in Ilkley.



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